Churchill Downs Update and Stakes Advances: Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Echo Sound Headlines Grade III, $300,000 Dogwood

Sep 13, 2025

Gabriel Dulgnan’s multiple Grade III winner Echo Sound will attempt to rebound from her disappointing effort as the beaten favorite in last month’s Test Stakes (GI) when she faces seven fellow 3-year-old filles entered in next Saturday’s 50th running of the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

Run at seven furlongs, the Dogwood Stakes will share the spotlight with the $300,000 Bourbon Flight (Race 10); $300,000 Harrods Creek (Race 7); and $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) (Race 8). First post for the stakes-filled card is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Dogwood field going to post in Race 9 at 4:58 p.m.

Campaigned by Rusty Arnold II, Echo Sound scored her first graded stakes victory in the May 16 Miss Preakness (GIII) then, one month later, bested three rivals in the Victory Ride (GIII). Prior to Saturday’s Dogwood, Echo Sound was the beaten 3-2 favorite in the Test (GI), finishing sixth to stablemate Kilwin. Jockey Florent Geroux has the mount in the Dogwood from the rail.

Another talented filly entered in the race is Godolphin’s Ragtime. Trained by Bill Mott, the lightly-raced daughter of Union Rags was victorious in the first two starts of her career, breaking her maiden by 3 ¾ lengths and then winning a first-level allowance by 4 ¼ lengths at Saratoga. Following her allowance score, Ragtime nearly won the Test, finishing a neck behind Kilwin at odds of 4-1. Junior Alvarado will have the call in the Dogwood out of post 4.

The field for the Dogwood Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Echo Sound (Geroux, Arnold)
Gerlin’s Empire (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)
Kay Cup (Jaime Torres, Jorge Abreu)
Ragtime (Alvarado, Mott)
Strong State (James Graham, Al Stall Jr.)
Sturgeon Moon (Cristian Torres, Will Walden)
Delightful Claire (Jose Ortiz, Phil Bauer)
Mega Mil (Axel Concepcion, John Serivs)
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.

WEST VIRGINIA DERBY WINNER CHUNK OF GOLD LEADS EIGHT 3-YEAR-OLDS IN $300,000 BOURBON FLIGHT – Terry Stephens’ West Virginia Derby (Grade III) winner Chunk of Gold headlines a field of eight 3-year-olds entered for next Saturday’s fifth running of the $300,000 Bourbon Flight at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 3/16 miles, the Bourbon Flight is part of a stakes quartet along with the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (GIII); $300,000 Harrods Creek; and $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed). The Bourbon Flight goes as Race 10 on the 11-race card with a post time of 5:29 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Chunk of Gold, trained by Ethan West, was cross-entered in the Bourbon Flight and Friday’s $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park. A son of Preservationist, Chunk of Gold finished ninth in Kentucky Derby 151. Prior to his victory in the West Virginia Derby, Chunk of Gold was the runner-up to Mo Plex in the Ohio Derby (GIII). Jareth Loveberry has the call on Chunk of Gold from post No. 5.

Another horse cross-entered in the Bourbon Flight and St. Louis Derby is Albaugh Family Stable’s Delaware Derby winner Admiral Dennis. Trained by Brad Cox, Admiral Dennis was the beaten favorite in the Ellis Park Derby, finishing third behind Big Truzz and Jimmy’s Dailys. Admiral Dennis drew post 7 for the Bourbon Flight with Luan Machado named to ride.

The lineup for the Bourbon Flight from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Run Quiet Run Fast (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Gerardo Rodriguez)
Brotha Keny (Jose Ortiz, Bill Morey)
Excite (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bill Mott)
Hypnus (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
Chunk of Gold (Loveberry, West)
Whiskey Shot (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset)
Admiral Dennis (Machado, Cox)
Just a Fair Shake (Axel Concepcion, Daniel McKenzie)
CHAMPION FILLY IMMERSIVE HEADS FIELD FOR $175,000 SENECA – Godolphin’s champion filly Immersive returns to face six rivals entered in next Saturday’s fifth running of the $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed), one of four stakes events on Churchill Downs’ 11-race program.

The Seneca, run at 1 1/16 miles, will go as Race 8 with a post time of 4:26 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Along with the Seneca, Saturday’s card also includes the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (Grade III); $300,000 Bourbon Flight; and $300,000 Harrods Creek.

Trained by Brad Cox, Immersive had a brilliant 2-year-old campaign, winning the Spinaway (GI) and Alcibiades (GI) prior to a 4 ½-length score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). As a 3-year-old, Immersive returned in the June 14 Monomoy Girl Stakes, finishing second to Take Charge Milady. One month later, Immersive was sent to Saratoga for the Coaching Club American Oaks where she was bet to the heavy 3-5 favorite but finished second to runaway winner Scottish Lassie. Jockey Florent Geroux has the call in the Seneca and will break from the rail.

Another accomplished filly in the race is Greenwell Thoroughbreds’ Iowa Oaks (Listed) winner Quickick. Trained by Tom Amoss, Quickick finished seventh in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) prior to her breakthrough win in the July 5 Iowa Oaks. The daughter of McKinzie will be ridden in the Seneca by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post No. 7.

The field for the Seneca Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Immersive (Geroux, Cox)
Next Up (Mario Gutierrez, Matt Sims)
Ivory and Ebony (Jose Ortiz, Dale Romans)
Decadent (Colby Hernandez, Kenny McPeek)
Liam in the Dust (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset)
Flash Wear (Corey Lanerie, Tommy Vance)
Quickick (Hernandez, Amoss)
GRADE II WINNER SMOKEN WICKED TOPS $300,000 HARRODS CREEK – Valene Farms’ uber-talented Louisiana-bred Smoken Wicked is set to make his return to Churchill Downs and face five fellow 3-year-olds entered in next Saturday’s fifth running of the $300,000 Harrods Creek, one of four stakes on the 11-race program.

The seven-furlong Harrods Creek is one of four stakes on the 11-race program. The race shares the spotlight with the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (Grade III); $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 going as Race 7 at 3:54 p.m.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Smoken Wicked scored an impressive 5 ¾-length score in the July 25 Amsterdam Stakes (GII) at Saratoga. The speedy son of Bobby’s Wicked One scored two stakes victories against state-bred company this winter at Fair Grounds prior to competing against open company his last six starts. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the mount in the Harrods Creek from post No. 5.

The field also includes Donald Dizney’s Ellis Park Derby runner-up Jimmy’s Dailys and Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust’s U Devil You, who earned a solid 96 Brisnet Speed Rating one month ago winning an allowance at Ellis Park.

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

Optical (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
Semper Primus (Walter Rodriguez, Jimmy DiVito)
Jimmy’s Dailys (Jose Ortiz, Brian Lynch)
U Devil You (Edgar Morales, John Ortiz)
Smoken Wicked (Hernandez, Stewart)
Faster Gator (Jaime Torres, Anthony Farrior)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Saturday’s 11-race card got underway at 12:45 p.m. and featured a quintet of stakes contests. There was a $38,469 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot beginning in Race 6. The $3 Late Pick 3 got underway in Race 9. … There were 224 horses on the Saturday work tab at Churchill Downs led by defending Lukas Classic (GII) winner Hit Show, who cruised five furlongs in :59.20. … Trainer Rusty Arnold II began Saturday with 1,990 career wins. … For more information about the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.