Helium gets chance to rise in Matt Winn Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The fairly good news for Helium is that he finished ahead of 11 opponents in the Kentucky Derby. The fairly bad news is that he not only incurred his first career defeat when eighth at 38-1, but the effort also suggested he’ll need to improve substantially to join the ranks of North America’s elite 3-year-olds.

Helium will get every chance to further his cause, returning to action Saturday in a field of eight 3-year-olds in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. The bay Ironicus colt will have Julien Leparoux back aboard when he breaks from post 2 in the 1 1/16-mile Winn, one of six straight $150,000 stakes on easily the biggest day of racing at Churchill since the May 1 Derby.

Helium was 3 for 3 into the Derby, with his only prior start this year resulting in a 15-1 triumph in the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby. Trainer Mark Casse said things have gone well since the colt earned a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure in the Kentucky Derby.

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“I thought he ran respectable,” said Casse. “He was up on the pace, and obviously I was expecting a little better finish from him, so that was a bit disappointing. But, all in all, I thought it was pretty good effort. Now he’ll have four weeks between races, and he’s trained well, so we should get a better read Saturday on where we stand with him.”

O Besos, fifth in the Derby with a 94 Beyer, had been considered for a number of other upcoming 3-year-old stakes before trainer Greg Foley decided to stay home for the Winn. The Orb colt also has trained forwardly in the interim and figures to be favored Saturday off his solid Derby showing.

From the rail, this is the Matt Winn lineup: Ready to Pounce, Helium, O Besos, Southern Passage, Fulsome, Hello Hot Rod, Sittin On Go, and Game Day Play.

Fulsome, a last-out winner of the May 1 Oaklawn Stakes, was one of four nominated by Brad Cox to the Winn. Mandaloun, second in the Derby for Cox, goes instead in the June 13 Pegasus at Monmouth Park, while Caddo River will leave Sunday for New York to run in the Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard next Saturday.

Following the likelihood of Friday rain, the Saturday forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and relief from the recent heat, with a high temperature of just 66.

The six Saturday stakes with $150,000 purses will be run consecutively as races 5-10. In order, they are the Audubon, Blame, Shawnee, Regret, Matt Winn, and Aristides. In addition, a $110,000 overnight stakes, the Douglas Park, is the last of 11 races on an outstanding card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.