Churchill Downs Stakes Advance: American Turf Runner-Up Remember Mamba Returns to Churchill Downs for Grade III, $300,000 Commonwealth Turf

Nov 14, 2026

C R K Stable’s American Turf (Grade I) runner-up Remember Mamba is set to return to Churchill Downs and face a competitive field of nine 3-year-olds that entered next Saturday’s 21st running of the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf (GIII).

Carded as Race 10 on the 11-race program, the 1 1/16-mile featured grass event goes to post at 5:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m. The Commonwealth Turf will be contested in Lane 2 of the Matt Winn Turf Course, 12 feet off the inside rail.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Remember Mamba was beaten 2 ¼ lengths to Stark Contrast in the May 2 American Turf. Following that race, the son of Kitten’s Joy finished third in the Belmont Derby (GI), fourth in the Saratoga Derby (GI) and third in the Bryan Station (GII). Overall, Remember Mamba is a three-time winner and most notably won the Transylvania (GIII) by a half-length in early April at Keeneland. He’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by Jose Ortiz out of post No. 8

The Commonwealth Turf field also includes Tyler Sliney’s Bert Allen Handicap winner Gramp’s Legacy; trainer Dallas Stewart’s duo of Water Tower Stakes runner-up Royal Causeway and graded stakes-placed Corona de Oro; and Racingwithbruno and GMP Stables’ three-time winner Banksy’s.

The complete field for the Commonwealth Turf from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Banksy’s (Tyler Gaffalione, David Fawkes)
Gramp’s Legacy (Johan Rosado, Jerry O’Dwyer)
Fuzzbuster (Luis Saez, Vicki Oliver)
Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)
Winter Holiday (Walter Rodriguez, Eoin Harty)
Beautiful War (Jaime Torres, David Fawkes)
Royal Causeway (Cristian Torres, Dallas Stewart)
Remember Mamba (Jose Ortiz, DeVaux)
No Joke Joe (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Joe Sharp)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Saturday’s 12-race Claiming Crown program had a first post of 1 p.m. and carryovers of $471,377 in the Jackpot 8 and $117,748 in the Derby City 6. … The average payouts for the first 12 days of the meet: Win ($12.60); $3 Late Pick 3 ($1,680); Pick 4 ($808); Pick 5 ($4,618); and Derby City 6 Jackpot ($8,743). … Holiday Cheer at the Track continues Sunday with an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The world’s most famous duo will be set up on the second floor of the Clubhouse from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m., with a professional photographer on-site. … Local jockeys Axel Concepcion, Ben Curtis, James Graham and Danny Sheehy head to Fair Grounds for the start of their racing season on Wednesday. … Second Stride will host a fundraiser Monday from 4-8 p.m. at DiOrio’s in Prospect, Ky. The evening features a silent auction with racing memorabilia that includes signed race-worn jockey pants from Brian Hernandez Jr., signed posters from Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and a framed Kentucky Derby 132 bib with signatures of Don Brumfield, Day, Chris McCarron and Bobby Ussery. A portion of food and specialty drink sales go towards Second Stride. …  For the latest information about the Fall Meet from Churchill Downs, visit www.churchilldowns.com.