For Hartman, the Aristides Stakes is proving a meal ticket

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chris Hartman can only wish the Aristides was run more often at Churchill Downs.

“That’d be really nice, wouldn’t it?” Hartman said, knowing full well his outstanding record in the Grade 3 race.

Hartman won the $125,000 Aristides on Saturday night with Wilbo, giving him a third victory in the six-furlong race since he left his longtime circuit in the far southwest a little more than four years ago. He won the 2015 and 2016 renewals with Alsvid, and for good measure Wilbo ran second in 2017 and third in 2018.

“I could retire early if they ran this race every week,” laughed Hartman, 46.

But then what would he do? Since making Churchill his primary base while mixing in Oaklawn Park winters, Hartman has become a huge fan of the racetrack life in Kentucky. When not overseeing his full stable of horses on the backside, he can usually be found in the Gold Room on the frontside, wading not only into the local wagering pools with other avid horseplayers, but those at other tracks.

“I love it here,” he said.

Wilbo, owned by Chris Wilkins, fought hard to win the 31st Aristides, overtaking longshots Petrov and Zipp On By in the final yards to prevail by a neck. The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Candy Ride now has finished third or better in 25 of 34 starts, 11 of them wins. Hartman said his next start could come in the July 5 Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows or the July 21 Good Lord at Ellis Park.

Wilbo was ridden by Corey Lanerie, who has been the winningest jockey at Churchill over the last decade with 16 riding titles, outright or shared. Lanerie was caught in a poignant pose after the race by track photographer Kurtis Coady pointing skyward in a gesture meant for his late wife, Shantel, who died last June 22. Saturday would have been her 43rd birthday.

Lanerie ended the weekend in a familiar position atop the jockey standings with 24 winners, followed by Julien Leparoux (21) and Miguel Mena (20).