Upper Case triumphs in Dream Supreme; Battle of Normandy takes River City

The start of both stakes races Saturday at Churchill Downs played a critical role in their finishes.

Even-money favorite Spirit Wind, a pure speed horse, missed the kick in the $295,000 Dream Supreme Stakes, paving the way for Upper Case to post a 1 1/4-length victory. And after Masteroffoxhounds and Hades, two prime pace players in the Grade 3, $300,000 River City Stakes, both broke slowly, Battle of Normandy scored a 1 3/4-length win after pressing a walking pace.

The flubbed breaks in the River City, a 1 1/8-mile grass race for older horses, left Wonderful Justice leading through a slow 24.77-second first quarter-mile. Battle of Normandy, with Luan Machado getting his first ride for trainer Shug McGaughey, set up shop just outside and behind Wonderful Justice, Machado pushing forward at about the five-furlong marker to keep Wonderful Justice from slowing the tempo even further.

Battle of Normandy stuck his head in front, but Wonderful Justice countered, leading past the three-furlong marker until Battle of Normandy collared him again, this time for good. After going his first half-mile in just less than 50 seconds, Battle of Normandy ran his second half in 47.19, and by then he had gone clear, finishing things off with an 11.77 final furlong while winning comfortably.

Reckoning Force surged between horses to finish second, with Gigante third and 3-1 favorite Cash Equity fourth after a wide trip. Battle of Normandy clocked 1:48.79 over firm going and paid $10.32 while winning his first stakes race.

McGaughey ran Battle of Normandy through three allowance conditions this year, all wins, before returning the 4-year-old colt to stakes competition for the first time since September 2023. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, and bred by Gage Hill Stables and W S Farish, Battle of Normandy is by City of Light out of Adorable Miss, by Kitten’s Joy.

Upper Case made a successful stakes debut in the Dream Supreme for trainer Paulo Lobo and owner OXO Equine, turning the tables on runner-up Mystic Pleasure, who had beaten her last month in a Keeneland allowance race. Upper Case, a 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah and the Smart Strike mare, Rigged Smart, has improved markedly the last few starts for Lobo.

In Saturday’s six-furlong dirt contest, Upper Case broke sharply before settling into a stalking position under Evin Roman, while Accomplished Girl set a fast pace, 44.66 for the opening half. Roman came off the fence and got Upper Case outside Accomplished Girl and Mystic Pleasure, and Upper Case quickly took their measure, hitting the front just past the furlong grounds and holding firm. Mystic Pleasure held second by three-quarters of a length over Spirit Wind, who performed creditably given her bad start.

Upper Case was timed in 1:09.98 over a fast track and paid $11.34 to win. She was bred by Thoro-Bred Stables and made the most of a good trip in the Dream Supreme.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.