Churchill Downs Stakes Advance and Update: Roll On Big Joe Returns in Next Saturday's $300,000 Bet In Sunshine

Oct 25, 2025

Roll On Big Joe is set to return to Churchill Downs next Saturday, where he’ll attempt to win his second stakes event beneath the Twin Spires this year while facing a competitive cast of seven sprinters entered in the 17th running of the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine (Listed).

Owned by Rancho Temescal, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr., Roll On Big Joe earned a gritty three-quarter-length victory four months ago in the Kelly’s Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs over Dr. Venkman. The 5-year-old gelded son of Prospective is a seven-time winner from 20 starts for trainer Bob Hess Jr. Julien Leparoux has the mount from post No. 5.

Another leading contender in the race is David Jacobson’s Durante, who finished third behind Roll On Big Joe in the Kelly’s Landing. The 6-year-old gelding has won 10 of 43 starts, including the Aristides Stakes (GIII) in late May. Cristian Torres will ride from post 6.

The deep field of sprinters also includes Aaron Kennedy, Toby Joseph and Doug Anderson’s top Iowa-bred Glengarry; Town and Country Racing’s recent stakes winner Mondogetsbuckets; and Murray and Sherilynn House’s Champlin, who finished a neck behind Gulfport in last year’s Bet On Sunshine.

The lineup for the Bet On Sunshine from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Ajaayb (Mario Gutierrez, Gustavo Esquivel)
Glengarry (Tyler Bacon, Doug Anderson)
Surveillance (Luan Machado, Mike Maker)
Champlin (Mitchell Murrill, Greg Foley)
Roll On Big Joe (Leparoux, Hess)
Durante (Torres, Jacobson)
Mondogesbuckets (Edgar Morales, Chris Block)
The Bet On Sunshine will highlight the 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The six-furlong contest goes as Race 7 with a post time of 4:48 p.m.

Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs will run concurrently with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar. Championship Saturday’s 12-race program in Southern California will commence at 1:05 p.m. with the Breeders’ Cup on Races 4-12 (3-8:25 p.m.). The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) is Race 9 at 6:25 p.m.

Simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup will be available in the simulcast area on the second floor of the Clubhouse, as well as select dining spaces. Guests who attend Churchill Downs on Friday will be able to advance wager on the entire Championship Saturday program from Del Mar. There is no advance wagering on-track Thursday for the Championship Friday program.

JOHN ASHER ‘HOMETOWN HERO’ BANNER UNVEILED MONDAY – Churchill Downs’ late Vice President of Communications John Asher, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 62, will be honored by the city of Louisville on Monday with a “Hometown Hero” banner that will be displayed in front of Presentation Academy, a school he championed for decades.

Asher joined Churchill Downs in 1997 and quickly became one of the most beloved and irreplaceable figures in the track’s history. His deep passion for the Kentucky Derby and unwavering pride in the Louisville community made him synonymous with Churchill Downs itself. Before his tenure at the track, he was an award-winning radio journalist with NewsRadio 840 WHAS.

Louisville’s Hometown Heroes program began in 2002 with a mural installation of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Since then, several prominent Louisvillians have been honored, including jockey Pat Day, musician Jack Harlow, journalist Diane Sawyer and actress Jennifer Lawrence.

Monday’s ceremony will take place at Presentation Academy (861 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40203) and begin at 1 p.m. ET

DOWN THE STRETCH – Six local Breeders’ Cup contenders finalized their preparation Saturday for next week’s World Championships at Del Mar: Bear River (four furlongs, :48.20); Clicquot (four furlongs, :48); Comport (five furlongs, 1:00.20); Simply In Front (four furlongs, :50.20); Stellify (four furlongs, :49.20) and Tumbarumba (five furlongs, :59.20). Those six horses, along with the rest of the Kentucky-based Breeders’ Cup contingent, will ship to Del Mar on separate flights scheduled Saturday, Sunday and Monday. … Jockey Jose Ortiz was not named to ride in the first three races Sunday because he is going to Del Mar to work Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Journalism. He’s scheduled to return prior to the fourth race. … The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby continued Saturday where Hawk Mountain (IRE) won the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and earned 10 qualifying points toward an invitational spot in Kentucky Derby 152. His Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates Action (IRE) and Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) finished second and third, respectively. They were followed by Rochfortbridge (IRE) and Oxagon (FR). … Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with up to 40 betting interests, including the popular “All Others” option, will open Wednesday at noon and close Friday at 6 p.m. in advance of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Del Mar. The field for the three-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will be released Monday. … Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (16-12-2-0—$5,440,913) will be honored in a special retirement ceremony in Race 6 Sunday before beginning her second career as a broodmare at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms. The star filly will walk to the paddock with the field for Race 6 at approximately 3 p.m. and remain there throughout the duration of the race. … Sunday’s opener comes five days before Halloween and Churchill Downs will present the return of its popular Family Adventure Day: Trick-or-Treat at the Track. Kids 12 and under are encouraged to wear costumes and visit 15 “Trick-or-Treat Boo Stations” scattered throughout the racetrack as Churchill Downs hands out candy between 12:30-4 p.m. There will be more than 15 activities for children to enjoy including a pumpkin patch, face painting (1-4:30 p.m.), stick horse races (register between 12-2 p.m.), arts and crafts stations, bounce houses including a haunted maze, and games such as pumpkin bowling, cornhole and more. General admission is $9 and up to two children may attend for free per paying adult. For access to Family Adventure Day activities, guests must check in at the Family Adventure Day tent located near the Paddock Gate. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.