Status of two main players affect profile of St. Matthews Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sprints unfold with the complexion of the race often changing rapidly in the first strides out of the gate. In the case of the $160,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes, carded on Wednesday at Churchill Downs, the race will begin to shape up before the field even leaves the barns to walk over.

Just Might has won more stakes races than any entrant in this race and Baby Yoda has earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the group. But as of Monday morning, both were still not certain to run, having cross-entered or planning to do so in other races this week at Churchill Downs.

Just Might, a seven-time stakes winner, on both dirt and turf in 2021, was expected to cross-enter in Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint. The draw for that race was Monday, with trainer Michelle Lovell waiting to see how things unfold.

“He’s doing really good,” she said.

Baby Yoda tied for the second-highest Beyer of 2021 when he posted a 114 in an allowance victory at Saratoga. Since then, he has placed in three stakes, including a second to Flightline in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. The gelding, who is coming off a starter allowance win at Keeneland, is entered at a similar level on Thursday at Churchill for Bill Mott.

With or without these two in the starting lineup, Bango would stand out in the St. Matthews, which is for older horses who have not won a graded race in 2021 or 2022. Bango has an affinity for this track. He won the Aristides and Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs last year, and was third in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society. Overall, he is 6 for 11 here.

“He loves Churchill Downs, as you can see from his record here,” trainer Greg Foley said.

Tulane Tryst was a dominant allowance winner at Fair Grounds, then was a rallying second, beaten a length by Bob’s Edge, in the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes on March 19 at Oaklawn. He looks to continue the momentum for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who opened the meet Saturday night with a victory by Bayerness in the Roxelana.

Also exiting a fine winter at Oaklawn for a hot trainer is Top Gunner. The John Ortiz-trained gelding was third in the Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston behind Greeley and Ben and Mr Money Bags, both of whom won their subsequent start. Greeley and Ben was also third in the Whitmore. Top Gunner was then part of a strong season at Oaklawn for Ortiz, who sends out Barber Road as his first Kentucky Derby entrant. The consistent Top Gunner had a win and two seconds at the allowance level this winter in Arkansas.

Sir Alfred James is 5 for 9 at Churchill and was third in the Aristides behind Bango last year. He won the Holiday Cheer at Turfway to start what has already been a busy 2022 campaign. This field also includes stakes winners Manny Wah, Quick Tempo, and Tiger Dad.