Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps & Quotes: the Opening Verse, the Kentucky Juvenile and the St. Matthews

May 01, 2025 Kevin Kerstein

Klein Racing’s homebred Brilliant Berti remained perfect over the grass at Churchill Downs by posting a half-length victory over Lagynos in the 20th running of the $350,000 Opening Verse (Listed) for 4-year-olds and up to highlight the 12-race Thurby program.

Also Thursday afternoon, Pinky Finger won the 31st running of the $250,000 Kentucky Juvenile for 2-year-olds and Fort Bragg took the fourth running of the $200,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up.

In the Opening Verse, Brilliant Berti made a sweeping move on the far turn and surged four wide into the stretch where he collared pace-setting Portofino and Lagynos. At the eighth pole, Brilliant Berti began to get the upper hand and pulled away to give jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. his third victory in the race.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Brilliant Berti is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Noble Mission (GB) who completed the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:34.93 to notch his fourth stakes victory and sixth win in nine starts. Four of those victories have come over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Sent off as the slight favorite in the field of nine, Brilliant Berti returned $5.74, $3.54 and $2.44. Lagynos, ridden by Flavien Prat, returned $4.96 and $3.32 and finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Major Dude, who paid $2.62 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.

It was another half-length back to Piper’s Factor with Skyro, Money Supply, Portofino, Georgie W and Tut’s Revenge following in order.

In the Kentucky Juvenile, the Wesley Ward-owned and trained Pinky Finger shot to the front under Joel Rosario and then held off a bid from Maximus Prime to post a half-length victory.

Pinky Finger ran Monster into submission before the top of the stretch, fended off a challenge from stablemate Double Talker at midstretch and then prevailed in the run to the wire.

The victory was the fourth in the race for Ward, all coming with fillies.

Pinky Finger, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Army Mule, covered the five furlongs on a track rated as fast in :58.32. She is perfect in two starts following a maiden victory April 7 at Keeneland.

Pinky Finger returned $3.02, $2.28 and $2.10. Maximus Prime, ridden by Walter Rodriguez, returned $5.48 and $2.84 and finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Double Talker, who paid $2.44 to show under David Flores.

It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to Happyhappyboy with Daring Move and Monster following in order.

In the St. Matthews, Fort Bragg made a three-wide move at the top of the stretch and gradually wore down Champlin to post a 1 ½-length victory under Juan Hernandez.

Champlin broke fastest of all, chased by favored Speed Boat Beach with Fort Bragg third. At the head of the stretch, Speed Boat Beach began to retreat leaving Champlin and Fort Bragg to battle it out with the latter proving best to notch his second stakes victory and fifth win in 17 starts overall.

Owned by a partnership headed by SF Racing and trained by Bob Baffert, Fort Bragg completed the six furlongs in a stakes-record 1:08.04.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Tapit, Fort Bragg returned $14.54, $5.74 and $4.54. Champlin, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $6.02 and $4.38 and finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Happy Is a Choice, who returned $3.64 to show under Mike Smith.

It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to Red Flag with Valentine Candy, Miles Ahead, Henro, Bango, Happy American and Speed Boat Beach following in order.

OPENING VERSE QUOTES

Cherie DeVaux (Trainer, winner Brilliant Berti) – “We threw that last race at Fair Grounds (the Muniz Classic on March 22) out. It was his first race off a long layoff. He’s always done well here (now 4-for-4 here) and I didn’t have to tell the rider (Brian Hernandez Jr.) anything. He’s handled him a bunch of times.”

KENTUCKY JUVENILE QUOTES

Wesley Ward (Trainer, winner Pinky Finger) – “She’s fast; really fast. So far she has done everything we have asked of her. It’s truly special to win a stakes race here on Derby Week.”

ST. MATTHEWS QUOTES

Bob Baffert (Trainer, winner Fort Bragg) – “He (Fort Bragg) has matured a lot. We ran him here once before and he ran well (second in the 2023 Pat Day Mile). He did his job today. My other horse (Speed Boat Beach) no doubt needed the race. We’ll get him back.”

Referencing the scratch of Rodriguez from the Kentucky Derby: “We had to take Rodriguez out of the Derby; nothing serious. He had a little foot issue after his last work. We’ll just need a few days to get him right and then we are going to the Preakness.”