Churchill Downs Update: Encino Brings Multi-Surface Success to Saturday's $300,000 River City

Nov 06, 2025

Godolphin’s Encino has proven his versatility with victories on dirt, turf and all-weather surfaces and will look to add another turf win to his resumé Saturday in the $300,000 River City (Grade III), one of two stakes on an 11-race program at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Brad Cox, Encino enters the River City off a 1 ¾-length victory in the Presque Isle Mile, where he rallied from just off the pace to defeat seven rivals over the all-weather surface. Two months earlier, he captured the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes (Listed) on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis and last year won the Lexington (GIII) on dirt at Keeneland.

“He’s a very classy horse who gives it his all on any surface,” said Trace Messina, assistant trainer to Cox. “He’s a fast horse but has shown he’s able to sit off the pace if he needs to. We’re looking forward to him running another top effort on Saturday.”

The field for the River City from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei, 30-1)
Epic Ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis, 8-1)
Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 20-1)
Encino (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox, 5-1)
Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch, 10-1)
Chasing the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 7-2)
Mercante (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg, 10-1)
Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 5-1)
Lagynos (Frankie Dettori, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 30-1)
Tapit Shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
Taking Candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1)
Trainer John Ennis reported that Epic Ride will likely run in a Friday turf allowance event at Churchill Downs instead of the River City.

“It’s his final run of the year, so after this start we’ll give him a rest before the spring,” Ennis said. “I’m thinking we’ll go in Friday’s allowance instead of the (River City). I know they’re calling for rain Friday, but even if it comes off, we’ll probably still run.”

Jockey agent Ron Anderson reported to Thoroughbred Daily News’ Bill Finley that Frankie Dettori will not be aboard Lagynos in Saturday’s race. Dettori announced his retirement from North American riding following last week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Dettori stated he’ll ride in South America in early 2026 then join AMO Racing as a global brand ambassador.

Run at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course, the River City will go as the finale with a post time of 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). One race earlier, fillies and mares will be featured in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).

R DISASTER SLATED AS 9-5 CHOICE IN $300,000 DREAM SUPREME – Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and ATM Racing’s recent Gallant Bloom Stakes (Grade II) winner R Disaster leads a competitive field of 10 fillies and mares as the 9-5 morning line choice in Saturday’s 20th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

The speedy R Disaster, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., arrived at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 to continue her preparation for Saturday’s race. In her last start, she scored a front-running victory over seven rivals in the Gallant Bloom during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. Overall, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Slew has never finished outside the top two from 12 starts with seven wins and five runner-up efforts. R Disaster will exit post No. 7 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle.

The lineup for the Dream Supreme Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Sudden Switch (Axel Concepcion, Riley Mott, 12-1)
Taliesin (Frankie Pennington, Jacinto Solis, 10-1)
Jersey Pearl (Francisco Arrieta, Darrin Miller, 10-1)
Hillertio (Tyler Gaffalione, David Jacobson, 4-1)
Top (Fernando De La Cruz, Michelle Elliott, 20-1)
Tapit Quick (Cristian Torres, Dallas Stewart, 15-1)
R Disaster (Jose Ortiz, Joseph, 9-5)
Marmalade Skye (Luan Machado, David Jacobson, 15-1)
Mink’s Palace (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally, 8-1)
Halina’s Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr., Phil Bauer, 7-2)
For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT BLOSSOMS TO $135,547 FOR THURSDAY’S NINE-RACE CARD – The Derby City 6 Jackpot has gone unsolved for the first seven days of the Fall Meet with Thursday’s sequence featuring a carryover of $135,547.

The Derby City 6 Jackpot, which challenges bettors to have the only winning combination to take down the jackpot, has a 20-cent denomination with a low 15 percent takeout. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the daily pool will be paid out with the remaining 10 percent going to the carryover.

Thursday’s sequence: (with scratches as of 10:30 a.m. ET)

Race 4 (2:27 p.m.): Clm 12500, 3&up, 6 ½ F (10 runners)
Race 5 (2:57 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo f, 1 1/16 M (eight runners)
Race 6 (3:26 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, f&m, 5 F (T) (10 runners)
Race 7 (3:55 p.m.): Clm 20000n2L, f&m, 7 F (12 runners)
Race 8 (4:25 p.m.): OC 100000b, 3&up, 6 F (eight runners)
Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): Clm 32000, f&m, 1 M (T) (10 runners)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs at www.twinspires.com, the official wagering platform of Churchill Downs Incorporated. Past performances and other handicapping tools are available at www.brisnet.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was cleared by his doctors and is expected to return to action Wednesday where he was named to ride in Races 5 and 8. … Congratulations to jockey Danny Sheehy who notched his first Churchill Downs victory Wednesday when he piloted Dr Fenn to victory in Race 5 for trainer John Ennis. Sheehy is scheduled to ride this winter at Turfway Park. … Services will be held Tuesday for jockey agent Derek Ducoing, who passed away Oct. 29 at age 56. Ducoing was a fixture around the racetrack having represented top riders including Rosie Napravnik, Francisco Torres and Gabe Saez. More information about his service is available at https://www.greenwoodfh.com/obituaries/Derek-Thomas-Ducoing?obId=46288802. … Stall applications for winter stabling at Trackside Louisville are due Friday, Nov. 21. Interested trainers can pick up applications in the Churchill Downs or Trackside Stable Office. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.