Churchill Downs Daily Update for Sunday, Nov. 2: Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Mercante Tops Field of 12 in $300,000 River City

Nov 02, 2025

Carl Pollard’s multiple graded stakes-winning gelding Mercante is set to return to Churchill Downs on Saturday and will face a competitive cast of 12 turf specialists entered in the 46th running of the $300,000 River City (Grade III), one of two stakes events on the 11-race program.

The 1 1/8-mile River City, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course, is scheduled as Race 11 at 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). One race earlier, female sprinters take centerstage in the 20th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes (Listed). First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brian Knippenberg, Mercante earned a gritty neck victory in the Arlington Stakes (GIII) in late May over Brilliant Berti at Churchill Downs. Before that effort, the 5-year-old homebred son of Gun Runner won the Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII) at Turfway Park and finished three-quarters of a length behind Spirit of St. Louis in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI). Joe Ramos, who’s been aboard for Mercante’s last seven starts, retains the mount and will break from post No. 7.

Chief among his rivals in the race includes HRH Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s millionaire Lagynos. The 4-year-old son of Kantharos, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was a fast-closing third in the Arlington Stakes. Following that race, he romped by 5 ¼ lengths in the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs before finishing second one week later in the Mint Millions Invitational (GIII). Frankie Dettori, who has stated that Argine (JPN) in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Del Mar would be his last mount in North America, was named to ride and will exit post 9.

Other contenders in the River City include Godolphin’s Presque Isle Mile winner Encino; Welch Racing’s Mint Millions Invitational winner Epic Ride and Lael Stable’s Taking Candy, a Grade III winner and runner-up in the Wise Dan (GII).

The complete field for the River City from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei)
Epic Ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis)
Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez)
Encino (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox)
Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch)
Chasing the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker)
Mercante (Ramos, Knippenberg)
Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse)
Lagynos (Dettori, Asmussen)
English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano)
Tapit Shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr.)
Taking Candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux)
For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

GRADE II WINNER R DISASTER LEADS 10 FILLY AND MARE SPRINTERS IN $300,000 DREAM SUPREME – Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and ATM Racing’s recent Gallant Bloom Stakes (Grade II) winner R Disaster leads a competitive field of 10 fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s 20th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

The Dream Supreme Stakes, contested at six furlongs on the main track, is one of two stakes contests on Saturday’s 11-race card along with the $300,000 River City (GIII). The Dream Supreme will go as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. with the River City field going to post in Race 11. First post is 1 p.m.

The speedy R Disaster, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., scored a front-running victory over seven rivals in the Sept. 27 Gallant Bloom during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. Overall, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Slew has never finished outside the top 2 from 12 starts with seven wins and five runner-up efforts. Prior to the Gallant Bloom, R Disaster scored a dominant 6 ½-length win in the Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park and finished second by a half-length to fellow Dream Supreme rival Halina’s Forte in the Honorable Miss (GII) at Saratoga. R Disaster will exit post No. 7 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle.

The aforementioned Halina’s Forte will attempt to upset R Disaster once again in the Dream Supreme, breaking from post 10 under Irad Oritz Jr. Owned by Rigney Racing and trained by Phil Bauer, the 4-year-old daughter of Mitole is a six-time winner from 16 starts including her 24-1 upset victory in the Honorable Miss 14 weeks ago. Following that race, she disappointed in both the Ballerina (GI) and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (GII), finishing fifth and seventh, respectively.

Other likely top contenders in the Dream Supreme include Summerhill Stables’ Roxelana Stakes (Listed) winner Mink’s Palace; Todd Senger, Rebel Racing and Dennis Park’s recent allowance winner Sudden Switch; and Miller Racing’s Parx invader Taliesin, who dominated a recent allowance race by nine lengths.

The lineup for the Dream Supreme Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Sudden Switch (Axel Concepcion, Riley Mott)
Taliesin (Frankie Pennington, Jacinto Solis)
Jersey Pearl (Francisco Arrieta, Darrin Miller)
Hillertio (Tyler Gaffalione, David Jacobson)
Top (Fernando De La Cruz, Michelle Elliott)
Tapit Quick (Cristian Torres, Dallas Stewart)
R Disaster (Jose Ortiz, Joseph)
Marmalade Skye (Luan Machado, David Jacobson)
Mink’s Palace (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally)
Halina’s Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bauer)
For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot has bloomed to $123,267 for Sunday’s card, which began at 1 p.m. The sequence spanned Races 4-9 while the $3 Late Pick 3 began in Race 7. … Bet On Sunshine Stakes winner Roll On Big Joe earned his second-highest Brisnet Speed Rating of 102 for his 4 ½-length victory Saturday. His highest, a 106, came earlier this year in the Palos Verdes Stakes (GIII) at Santa Anita. … Jockey Edgar Morales was off his mounts Friday-Sunday after his mount, Midnight Flight, clipped heels in Race 4 Thursday, causing Morales to fall at the five-sixteenths pole. He continued to ride the rest of the Thursday card but later underwent a procedure at UofL Hospital. … Most of the Churchill Downs-based Breeders’ Cup contingent will fly back from Del Mar Sunday and Monday. Sunday’s flight, which was scheduled to arrive at 3:35 p.m., includes Clicquot, Gin Gin, Infinite Sky, Obliteration, Stellify and Will Take It. Monday’s arrivals include Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) third-place finisher Regaled and Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan, who was a veterinary scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI). … Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, a five-day racing week will begin Wednesday with daily first posts of 1 p.m. Wednesday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires’ Row for $45. Tickets are available by calling (502) 636-4450. Next Sunday is Military Appreciation Day presented by Coca-Cola where active and retired military members will receive free general admission or discounted tickets on Millionaires’ Row with a valid military I.D. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.