Shawnee, Blame stakes attract some top-quality horses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Older horses of the highly accomplished kind will take their turns in the Churchill Downs spotlight Saturday when a pair of $100,000 stakes further bolster an outstanding card anchored by the Matt Winn Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The Shawnee is for fillies and mares and the Blame is for their male counterparts. Both will be run over the main track as part of an all-stakes pick five (races 7-11). Here’s a rundown of each:

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Shawnee (race 7)

Dunbar Road, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 2 Mother Goose last year at 3, figures as a solid favorite when she makes her seasonal debut in the 1 1/16-mile Shawnee. Jose Ortiz will be back aboard Dunbar Road when she breaks from post 4 in a field of eight.

The Quality Road filly got a short break after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, returning to the work tab in late February at Chad Brown’s main winter base at the Palm Meadows training center. She arrived May 14 at Churchill, breezing a half-mile in 48 seconds three days later.

“She’s settled right in,” said Brown assistant Whit Beckman. “She’s getting over the surface very well. We expected a solid effort off the layoff and we’re very excited to get her started.”

If Dunbar Road isn’t quite ready, the first running of the Shawnee could go any number of ways. She’s a Julie (post 8, Ricardo Santana Jr.) is a second Grade 1 winner in this lineup, having won the La Troienne at Churchill last May, but she, too, has been away for an extended period, having last been seen finishing fourth in the Spinster at Keeneland last October.

One contender with recency is Vault (post 6, Joel Rosario), who stands to benefit substantially from an April 30 race at Oaklawn Park after sweeping her three prior starts.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Blame (race 9)

Under different circumstances, this race might be worthy of a graded ranking and a richer purse. Such is the depth of the field – and such is the fallout from the coronavirus crisis.

Instead, horsemen and fans will have to mostly settle for the thrill of witnessing top-flight competition. Owendale and the uncoupled Bret Calhoun pair of Silver Dust and Mr. Money are among a capacity field of 14 set to go a one-turn mile in the inaugural Blame.

Owendale, an earner of more than $1 million last year, will have Florent Geroux aboard from post 8 as a lukewarm 3-1 morning-line choice. The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt has been working steadily at Keeneland for Brad Cox since late March.

Silver Dust (post 7, Adam Beschizza) has been one of the Midwest’s most reliable handicap runners for the last 18 months, while Mr. Money (post 13, Gabriel Saez) has been particularly effective at Churchill, having won 3 of 4 starts here.

Other potential threats with their own individual merits are Global Campaign, Alwaysmining, Backyard Heaven, Snapper Sinclair, Discreet Lover, and Diamond King.