Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Will Take It Battles for Neck Victory Over Banishing in $296,000 Hanshin Presented by JRA

Jun 29, 2025

Will Take It fought his way past a determined Banishing in the final strides to win Sunday’s 72nd running of the $296,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by JRA (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, a longtime assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Will Take It surged to the lead inside the sixteenth pole and held off Banishing by a neck at the wire. The victory came soon after it was announced Lukas passed away at age 89.

“This one is for D.W.L.,” Stewart said.

Sent off at 12-1, Will Take It returned $26.36 for a $2 win bet and completed one mile over a fast track in 1:34.10 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

The early stages of the Hanshin featured a three-way duel as Banishing, Best Actor and Saudi Crown all vied for position through a sharp opening quarter mile in :22.64. With the duo battling up front, Hernandez positioned Will Take It in fifth, about two lengths off the leaders.

Around the far turn, Hernandez guided Will Take It to the two path, then tipped four-wide at the top of the stretch. In deep stretch, Banishing continued to battle between Will Take It and a rail rallying Extra Anejo. At the line, Will Take It got the better of Banishing to score his fifth lifetime victory.

Banishing held second over Extra Anejo. They were followed by Tumbarumba, Cagliostro, Judge Miller, Saudi Crown, and Best Actor.

Owned by Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm, Will Take It is a 4-year-old son of Tapit out of the War Front mare Lady Take Charge, bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm.

Sunday’s win worth $180,350 helped boost Will Take It’s earnings to $542,754.

*********************************************************************************************************************

VERIFIRE REMAINS UNBEATEN IN THREE STARTS, DOMINATES $250,000 MAXFIELD

Verifire sat just off the pacesetters, poked his head in front at the top of the stretch with a three-wide move and then rolled down the Churchill Downs stretch to dominate Sunday’s fourth running of the $239,685 Maxfield Stakes (Listed) by 2 ¾ lengths over Smoken Wicked and remain unbeaten in three starts.

Breaking from the post No. 9 in the field of 11 3-year-olds, Verifire tracked early leaders Captain Cook and Smoken Wicked, who set fractions of :22.36 and :44.56. Midway around the turn, Verifire swept three-wide to collar the leaders and hit the top of the stretch in front. He took command with three-sixteenths of a mile to run and held the field at bay for the fast victory in 1:20.77 for seven furlongs – only 0.33 off Groupie Doll’s 2012 track record of 1:20.44.

Flavien Prat rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox and owner John Stewart’s Resolute Racing.

“We’re very proud of his effort today,” Cox said. “He’s a perfect 3-for-3 and the record speaks for itself. He was able to prove his first two races were very legitimate against a solid field this afternoon.”

Previously, Verifire broke his maiden at Colonial Downs in March and won a first-level allowance at Pimlico. His three victories have been by a combined 15 ½ lengths.

Verifire, the 5-2 favorite, paid $7.18, $4.44 and $3.84. Smoken Wicked, second as the 9-2 third betting choice with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, returned $5.12 and $3.80. Captain Cook, the 5-2 second choice with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, was another length back in third and paid $3.34.

Retribution was fourth and was followed by Speed King, Ancient World, Flood Zone, Kale’s Angel, Furio, Max Got Excited and Normandy Coast. Dreaminblue and Perfect Force were scratched.

Verifire is a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic out of the Smart Strike mare Ruby Trust. The $146,560 first prize boosted his career earnings to $223,960. He was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD.

The Maxfield Stakes is named in honor of Godolphin’s eight-time winning horse. Maxfield was a two-time Grade I winner and won his career finale in last year’s $750,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) at Churchill Downs.

*********************************************************************************************************************

WHEREFORE ART THOU ROMEO? IN THE BASHFORD MANOR WINNER’S CIRCLE

Maryland invader Romeo shook free at the top of the stretch and drove clear to the wire to easily win the 124th running of the $194,500 Bashford Manor (Listed) for 2-year-olds by 3 ¾ lengths over Comport on closing day of the 43-day Spring Meet.

Romeo clocked six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.61, which shattered Kodiak Kowboy’s 2007 stakes record of 1:09.15. Xavier Perez, in his first mount at Churchill Downs, rode the winner for trainer “Jerry” Robb and owner Joseph Lloyd. Robb also won the Bashford Manor in 2013 with Debt Ceiling.

Breaking from post 4 in the field of seven 2-year-olds, Romeo broke well between Spice Runner and Comport and emerged the leader into the turn after a quarter mile in :21.39. Comport attempted to keep pace but Romeo spurted clear at the top of the stretch, clocked a half mile in :44.39 and cruised to the comfortable and decisive front-running victory.

“This is my first time at Churchill Downs and it was great to get a stakes win with this horse,” Perez said. “I was watching the races the last couple days and today it looked like speed was holding pretty well. He broke sharp and went right to the front. Around the turn I asked him to go and he took off. Things didn’t work out (in the Tremont) but he came out of that race really well and trained like a beast. I’m glad we took a chance to send him here.”

Romeo’s triumph was worth $106,330 and increased his bankroll to $156,760 with a record of 2-0-1 in three starts. He won his debut at Laurel on May 3 by 10 ¼ lengths and then finished a distant third in the $150,000 Tremont at Saratoga 24 days ago.

Romeo is by Honor A.P. out of the Not for Love mare Fancy Love. He was bred in Maryland by John C. Davidson.

Romeo returned $18.70, $8.32 and $4.22 as the 8-1 fifth betting choice. Comport, under Luis Saez at 9-2, paid $5.64 and $3.12. It was another seven lengths back to 6-5 favorite Password in third, who paid $2.44 to show under Flavien Prat.

Duke of Suggins, Spice Runner, Saul Elliott and Longstrider completed the order of finish.

First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.

*********************************************************************************************************************

PERCY’S BAR STAYS UNDEFEATED WITH FIVE-LENGTH SCORE IN $225,000 DEBUTANTE

Hat Creek Racing’s Percy’s Bar remained undefeated in her young career, drawing clear by five lengths in the stretch to win Sunday’s 124th running of the $225,000 Debutante Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by Luan Machado, Percy’s Bar completed six furlongs in 1:09.71 to improve her record to 2-for-2.

In the early stages of the race, Color Comin’ In was sent the lead and was quickly pressed to her inside by California invader Light Won Up and the speedy Essential Coffee through a sharp opening quarter mile in :21.29. While the trio dueled on the lead, Percy’s Bar rated in fifth, about four lengths off the pace, before launching a three-wide move on the turn.

Machado gave his filly the cue approaching the quarter pole and she quickly surged to the front. In deep stretch, Percy’s Bar widened her advantage with every stride as 43-1 longshot Jaboss rallied from last to finish second.

Color Comin’ In held third and was followed by Americathegreat, Lilies N Paradise, Light Won Up, Essential Coffee and Mine Strike.

“I worked her at Keeneland the other week and Ben asked me to go :49,” Machado said. “I did all I could not to let her go too fast but she was moving so easily. I looked down at my watch and saw :47. There aren’t many horses I’ve been on that move as quickly and easy as she does.”

Those who backed Percy’s Bar were rewarded with a mutuel payout of $8.88, $5.82 and $3.72.

Percy’s Bar earned $135,245 for the win, boosting her career bankroll to $187,558. The 2-year-old daughter of Upstart out of Honest Deb was bred in Kentucky by the late Brereton C. Jones.

The Debutante was first staged in 1895 and is one of Churchill Downs’ most storied races.

*********************************************************************************************************************

THIS, TOO, IS FOR D.W.L. AS PIN UP BETTY WINS $175,000 ANCHORAGE STAKES

Three Diamond Farm’s 4-year-old homebred filly Pin Up Betty won her second consecutive stakes race when she rallied in the stretch to defeat Duvet Day (IRE) by three-quarters of a length in Sunday’s fourth running of the $152,900 Anchorage Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Mike Maker, Pin Up Betty covered over 1 1/8 miles on “firm” turf in a stakes record 1:48.16, which bested Walkathon’s 2024 mark of 1:49.69.

After the race, the former D. Wayne Lukas assistant Maker said, “This one is for D.W.L,” referring to the Hall of Fame trainer who passed away at age 89 on Saturday night. Dallas Stewart said the same after Will Take It won the $296,000 Hanshin.

This was the third stakes victory of her career, and all were over the course at Churchill Downs. At 3, she won the $275,000 Regret (GIII) and on June 1 she prevailed in the $250,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII).

Generous Lover dictated the terms in the cast of seven fillies and mares through fractions of :23.43, :47.09 and 1:11.57 with Pin Up Betty racing well back in fifth down the backstretch. Pin Up Betty began her rally into the far turn, tipped out five-wide at the top of the stretch and collared Long Ago (GB) inside the sixteenth pole and had enough to fend off rallying Duvet Day (IRE).

Pin Up Betty paid $3.78, $2.52 and $2.12 as the odds-on 4-5 favorite. Duvet Day (IRE), at 9-2 under Flavien Prat, returned $4.18 and $3.12. Long Ago (GB), ridden by Ben Curtis, was another head back in third and paid $4.20 to show.

Sparkle Blue, Charlene’s Dream, Everland and Generous Lover completed the running order. Adrasteia and Faith Understood were scratched.

Pin Up Betty improved her record to 4-6-1 in 17 starts and the $105,836 first prize jumped her earnings to $880,427.

She is a daughter of Constitution out of the Into Mischief mare I’m Betty G and was bred in Kentucky by her owner Kirk Wycoff.

The Anchorage honors the suburb of Louisville, a heavily shaded city in eastern Jefferson County, Ky.

*********************************************************************************************************************

JOCKEY ORTIZ DOMINATES SPRING MEET;

SHARP, GODOLPHIN WIN TRAINER, OWNER TITLES

Jose Ortiz closed a sensational Spring Meet at Churchill Downs by officially clinching the riding title with 63 wins from 243 mounts, totaling more than $5.6 million in earnings. It marked Ortiz’s second straight Spring Meet crown beneath the Twin Spires and first outright after tying Tyler Gaffalione in 2024.

Ortiz pulled away from his competition during the final week of the 43-day meet, finishing well clear of Luis Saez (47 wins) and Brian Hernandez Jr. (39).

Trainer Joe Sharp secured his first Churchill Downs training title with 20 wins from 120 starters, amassing more than $1.5 million in earnings. Sharp held off eight-time champion Brad Cox (18 wins) and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen (17) during a tightly contested final week.

In the owner standings, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Godolphin claimed their fourth Churchill Downs title – and second straight – with 10 wins from 29 starters and more than $5.2 million in earnings. The powerhouse stable’s Spring Meet was highlighted by Sovereignty’s victory in Kentucky Derby 151 and Good Cheer’s win in the Longines Kentucky Oaks 151.

Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky shifts west to Ellis Park in Henderson for the 25-day summer season that begins Thursday. Racing at Churchill Downs will resume Sept. 11 for the 14-day September Meet.

*********************************************************************************************************************

HANSHIN QUOTES

Dallas Stewart, trainer, Will Take It, (winner): “This one is for D.W.L.”

*********************************************************************************************************************

MAXFIELD QUOTES

Brad Cox, trainer, Verifire, (winner): “We’re very proud of his effort today. He’s a perfect 3-for-3 and the record speaks for itself. He was able to prove his first two races were very legitimate against a solid field this afternoon.”

Dallas Stewart, trainer, Smoken Wicked, (runner-up): “Really proud of his effort. He was right up there on a solid pace and hung on to finish second.”

*********************************************************************************************************************

BASHFORD MANOR QUOTES

Xavier Perez, jockey, Romeo, (winner): “This is my first time at Churchill Downs and it was great to get a stakes win with this horse. I was watching the races the last couple days and today it looked like speed was holding pretty well. He broke sharp and went right to the front. Around the turn I asked him to go and he took off. Things didn’t work out (in the Tremont) but he came out of that race really well and trained like a beast. I’m glad we took a chance to send him here.”

Luis Saez, jockey, Comport, (runner-up): “He tried hard and ran a good race. He just couldn’t quite catch the winner.”

*********************************************************************************************************************

DEBUTANTE QUOTES

Luan Machado, jockey, Percy’s Bar, (winner): “I worked her at Keeneland the other week and Ben asked me to go :49. I did all I could not to let her go too fast but she was moving so easily. I looked down at my watch and saw :47. There aren’t many horses I’ve been on that move as quickly and easy as she does.”

Ben Colebrook, trainer, Percy’s Bar, (winner): “We had a lot of confidence coming into the race. Even though she had some time off, it really seems like she hasn’t skipped a beat since that impressive effort at Keeneland. We gave her a couple weeks off after that – no breezes, just galloping and letting her be a horse for a bit. Once we picked the breezes back up, she was like a fish to water. She’s the kind of horse where you have so many types of opportunities in the future. There are plenty of races at places like Ellis and Saratoga. She just gives you a lot of flexibility. I think the worst distance for her was in her debut going 4 ½ furlongs. The races are starting to get longer now and she seems like she’ll only get better.”

*********************************************************************************************************************

ANCHORAGE QUOTES

Mike Maker, trainer, Pin Up Betty, (winner): “This one is for D.W.L.”

*********************************************************************************************************************