Churchill Downs News Updates: Top Louisiana-bred Sprinter Smoken Wicked Tries to Bounce Back in Saturday's $300,000 Harrods Creek

Sep 18, 2025

Valene Farms’ top Louisiana-bred sprinter Smoken Wicked will return to Churchill Downs on Saturday as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $300,000 Harrods Creek as he looks to rebound from a subpar effort in last month’s H. Allen Jerkens (Grade I).

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Smoken Wicked earned his lone graded stakes win two starts ago when he drew off by 5 ¾ lengths in the Amsterdam (GII) at Saratoga. Following that victory, Smoken Wicked remained at Saratoga where he finished a lackluster seventh in the Allen Jerkens after a slow break.

“He’s a good, tough horse,” Stewart said. “He ran well here at Churchill in June, then shipped up to New York and did what good horses do when he won the Amsterdam.”

Prior to his two starts at Saratoga, the son of Bobby’s Wicked One captured the Louisiana Juvenile and Louisiana Futurity at Fair Grounds before finishing second in the Lafayette (Listed) at Keeneland and Maxfield (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Smoken Wicked, who sports a 14-5-3-1—$556,392 record, was purchased by Murray Valene for $38,000 at the 2023 Breeders of Louisiana Yearling & Mixed Sale. He broke his maiden at first asking for trainer Sturges Ducoing before joining Stewart’s barn for his last 13 starts.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who guided Smoken Wicked in the Amsterdam, will ride again in the Harrods Creek from post No. 5.

The seven-furlong Harrods Creek is one of four stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card, along with the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (GIII); $300,000 Bourbon Flight; and $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed). First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Harrods Creek scheduled as Race 7 at 3:54 p.m.

The field for the Harrods Creek from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Optical (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 15-1)
Semper Primus (Walter Rodriguez, Jimmy DiVito, 4-1)
Jimmy’s Dailys (Jose Ortiz, Brian Lynch, 7-2)
U Devil You (Edgar Morales, John Ortiz, 6-1)
Smoken Wicked (Brian Hernandez Jr., Stewart, 8-5)
Faster Gator (Jaime Torres, Anthony Farrior, 3-1)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

For more information about the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing resumed Thursday evening at Churchill Downs for the penultimate Twilight Thursday program of the year. There was a $61,686 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot beginning in Race 3 and the $3 Late Pick 3 began in Race 6. On track, fans enjoyed $2 domestic beer, live music by Ben Bernhard and local food trucks Bamba Egg Rolls, Black Rock Grille, HurriKanes, Ramiros and Red Top Dogs. … Agent Julio Espinoza reported jockey Rafael Bejarano hopes to return to the saddle in about two weeks. The veteran rider was injured during a gate mishap in early August at Ellis Park. … Several top riders from the Churchill Downs colony will be at Parx on Saturday to ride the Pennsylvania Derby program including Tyler Gaffalione, Irad Ortiz Jr., Luis Saez and Gabe Saez. … St. Louis Derby entrant Disco Time schooled in the Churchill Downs paddock Thursday morning. The Brad Cox trainee drew the rail for Friday’s race at Fairmount Park and is listed at odds of 6-1. … Churchill Downs’ all-time win leader Bango returned to the work tab Thursday morning with a half-mile breeze in :51.40. The 8-year-old was last seen in the May 1 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes where he finished a disappointing eighth. … Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ stakes winner Built had his first work since the May 3 Pat Day Mile (GII) when he clipped a half-mile in :49 Thursday morning for trainer Wayne Catalano. Built, who won the Gun Runner Stakes to cap his 2-year-old season, finished ninth in the Pat Day Mile. … One of the nation’s top 3-year-old fillies, D. J. Stable’s Nitrogen, returned to Churchill Downs where she breezed a half-mile in :48.20 Thursday. Nitrogen has been dominant on the turf throughout her career with victories in the Edgewood (GII), Appalachian (GII), Florida Oaks (GIII) and Wonder Again (GIII). In mid-August, she tested dirt in the Alabama (GI) where she scored a 1 ½-length victory over Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Good Cheer. … “Inside Churchill Downs” airs Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN Louisville. The one-hour show will preview all of Saturday’s action at Churchill Downs and around the country. Fans outside the Louisville area can listen live on www.espnlouisville.com. … Friday is Senior Day with discounted tickets on Millionaires’ Row for guests 60 and older. To purchase tickets, guests can call the Churchill Downs sales office at (502) 636-4450. … Sunday is Family Adventure Day: Purple Takeover featuring a meet-and-greet with stars from professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville along with 15 kid-friendly activities. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com. … There are several tournaments this week at TwinSpires to help gamblers qualify for Saturday’s $1,000 Pennsylvania Derby/Churchill Downs BCBC Qualifier. For more information, visit www.twinspires.com/bet/tournaments. … TwinSpires will offer customers a $3,000 Hit It & Split It promotion for the $3 Late Pick 3 each Sunday throughout the September Meet. For more information, visit www.twinspires.com/bet/offers. … For the latest information about the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.