Churchill Downs Update: Cox Keeps Kentucky Derby Fourth Final Gambit Home for Sunday's Grade III, $400,000 Matt Winn Test

Jun 05, 2025

Juddmonte’s Final Gambit, a late-closing fourth-place finisher in Kentucky Derby 151, will get another opportunity to earn a victory at Churchill Downs as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Sunday’s $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (Grade III).

“He came out of the Derby in really good shape and we were proud of his effort that day,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We targeted this race to give him another opportunity on dirt without shipping somewhere. He worked three times since the Derby and I thought each one was solid leading into this race.”

Final Gambit, a son of Not This Time, broke his maiden and won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park. Since the Derby, Final Gambit has posted three breezes at Churchill Downs: a half mile in :49.80 on May 16 followed by five furlongs in 1:00.20 on May 24 and 1:00.60 on June 1.

Final Gambit also will have a new rider in the Matt Winn. Flavien Prat will be aboard for the first time, replacing Luan Machado, who rode the colt in his last four starts. They will break from post No. 2.

The Matt Winn is part of a stakes doubleheader that also includes the $175,000 Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Matt Winn scheduled as Race 8 at 4:22 p.m. and the Leslie’s Lady as Race 5 at 2:45 p.m.

The complete lineup for the Matt Winn in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Gaming (Florent Geroux, Bob Baffert, 5-1)
Final Gambit (Prat, Cox, 5-2)
Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West, 6-1)
Just a Fair Shake (Jaime Rodriguez, Daniel McKenzie, 15-1)
Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 7-2)
Coal Battle (Corey Lanerie, Lonnie Briley, 9-2)
East Avenue (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh, 4-1)
DOWN THE STRETCH –Thursday’s Twilight Thursday card got underway at 5 p.m. and featured $2 domestic beer, live music by Tyler Embry and local food trucks Gringos, Hurrikanes, Lil Cheezers and Ramiro’s Mexican. Thursday also doubled as Teacher Appreciation Day with discounted $45 Millionaires’ Row tickets available for purchase for local teachers. There was a $418,312 carryover in the Derby City 6 Jackpot beginning in Race 3. … Friday is Senior Day and guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch on Millionaires’ Row for $45. Discounted tickets for both Teacher Appreciation Day and Senior Day can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450. … Saturday’s 11-race card at Churchill Downs will have watch party for the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, which features Kentucky Derby 151 winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 p.m. … Sunday is Family Adventure Day with more than 15 kid-friendly activities for children under 12 to enjoy. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.churchilldowns.com. … “Inside Churchill Downs” returns Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN Louisville. The one-hour show will preview the action on Belmont Stakes Day as well as the weekend races at Churchill Downs. Fans can tune in on ESPN 680/105.7 in the Louisville area or worldwide at www.espnlouisville.com.