Churchill Downs Update: Foley Hopes Troubleshooting's Ascent Continues in Saturday's Mighty Beau

Jun 04, 2026

Saturday’s $225,000 Mighty Beau Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs will give Grade I winner Troubleshooting another opportunity to showcase the talent trainer Greg Foley always believed was there.

“He’s continued to get better as he’s gotten older,” Foley said. “He’s a big horse and it took him a little while to put everything together, but he’s always shown us a lot of ability.”

The Donamire Farm homebred enters the five-furlong turf sprint off a career-best campaign that included victories in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (GI) at Kentucky Downs and Bryan Station Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with him,” Foley said. “To win a Grade I and then come back and win another graded stakes, that’s something you appreciate because it’s hard to do.”

A 4-year-old son of Not This Time, Troubleshooting has won four of 12 starts and earned more than $1.7 million.

“Donamire Farm has been tremendous to train for,” Foley said. “They’ve bred quality horses for a long time, and it’s rewarding to see a horse they raised themselves develop into a Grade I winner.”

Tyler Gaffalione will have the call in Saturday’s race from post No. 2 at odds of 4-1.

Among the contenders entered to challenge Troubleshooting is defending Mighty Beau winner Joe Shiesty. Installed as the 7-2 morning line favorite for Foster Family Racing, Lonnie Reynolds, Vicki Mills and Don Coomes, the 5-year-old son of Air Force Blue scored a gate-to-wire victory in last year’s renewal and has earned $946,927 through 20 starts.

The field for the Mighty Beau in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Okiro (Jose Morelos, Jose Garoffalo, 20-1)
Troubleshooting (Gaffalione, Foley, 4-1)
Sweet Dani Boy (Axel Concepcion, Nick Vaccarezza, 15-1)
Doncho (Jaime Torres, Michelle Lovell, 8-1)
Joe Shiesty (Fernando De La Cruz, Eric Foster, 7-2)
Mondogetsbuckets (Brian Hernandez Jr., Chris Block, 6-1)
Nothing Better (Gerardo Corrales, Jorge Duarte Jr., 12-1)
Works for Me (Luan Machado, Joe Lee, 5-1)
Schwarzmeier (James Graham, Peter Eurton, 6-1)
No Nay Hudson (IRE) (Ben Curtis, Wesley Ward, 8-1)
The Mighty Beau will go as Saturday’s featured 10th race with a post time of 5:28 p.m. (all times Eastern), first post is 12:45 p.m.

Guests in attendance Saturday can watch and wager on the Belmont Stakes (GI) at Saratoga, featuring a rematch among the top two finishers from Kentucky Derby 152, Golden Tempo and Renegade. Following the conclusion of Churchill Downs’ 11-race program at approximately 5:59 p.m., the Belmont Stakes will be shown on televisions throughout the facility and on the Big Board. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 p.m.

For the latest information on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

THURSDAY’S EIGHT-RACE CARD FEATURES DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT CARRYOVER OF $129,204 – Horseplayers will have the chance to chase a six-figure jackpot Thursday at Churchill Downs with a $129,204 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that spans Races 4-9.

The Derby City 6 Jackpot has a 20-cent minimum denomination with low 15% takeout and requires bettors to have the only winning ticket to take down the jackpot. If there are multiple winning tickets, 90% of the day’s pool is paid out with 10% carrying to the next race day. If there are no winning tickets, the entire day’s pool is carried to the next race day.

Thursday’s wager covers Races 3-8, beginning at 5:58 p.m. (all times Eastern):

Race 3 (5:58 p.m.), Mdn 120k, 3yo and up f&m, 5 ½ F (T) (14 entries, 10 eligible to run)
Race 4 (6:27 p.m.), Clm 30000n2L, 3yo and up f&m, 6 F (six entries)
Race 5 (6:56 p.m.), Mdn 120k, 2yo, 5 ½ F (11 entries)
Race 6 (7:25 p.m.), OC 125000n1x, 3yo f, 1 M (T) (14 entries, 10 eligible to run)
Race 7 (7:54 p.m.), MC 100000, 3yo and up, 1 M (13 entries, 12 eligible to run)
Race 8 (8:23 p.m.), OC 80000n2x, 3yo and up, 1 1/16 M (T) (10 entries)
Thursday’s card also includes a $123,624 carryover in the Jackpot 8 in Race 8.

FURTHER ADO, EXPLORA MADE FAVORITES IN SUNDAY STAKES DOUBLEHEADER – Kentucky Derby (Grade I) favorite and Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Further Ado has been made the even-money favorite in Sunday’s 29th running of the $500,000 Matt Winn Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs, while Kentucky Oaks (GI) fourth and multiple stakes winner Explora is the 7-5 early choice over Eight Belles (GII) winner On Time Girl at 9-5 in the fourth running of the $225,000 Leslie’s Lady Stakes (Listed).

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

Stop the Car (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh, 8-1)
Potente (Florent Geroux, Bob Baffert, 7-2)
Pavlovian (Luis Saez, Doug O’Neill, 10-1)
Our Moneyman (Axel Concepcion, Bret Calhoun, 15-1)
Corona de Oro (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 12-1)
Taptastic (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
Further Ado (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 1-1)
Steel Imperium (Vincent Cheminaud, Caio Caramori, 30-1)
The field for the Leslie’s Lady from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

A Fine Chardonnay (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 4-1)
Shilling (Manny Esquivel, Kenny McPeek, 30-1)
Explora (Florent Geroux, Bob Baffert, 7-5)
Sneaky Good (Jose Ortiz, Brad Cox, 6-1)
Have Faith (Cristian Torres, Dallas Stewart, 20-1)
On Time Girl (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 9-5)
Brooklyn Blonde (Luis Saez, Michael McCarthy, 12-1)
First post for Sunday’s nine-race program 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 carded as Race 6 at 3:18 p.m.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Today is Teacher Appreciation Night for Twilight Thursday where discounted tickets are available for local educators. The evening includes $2 domestic draft beer, live music by Kevin Niehoff and local food trucks Annie Up Pizza, Bamba Egg Rolls, HurriKanes and Ramiro’s Cantina. … Friday is Senior Day, and guests 60 and older can receive discounted Millionaire’s Row tickets by calling (502) 636-4450. … Sunday’s Family Adventure Day will celebrate track mascot Churchill Charlie’s birthday with activities for children 12 and under, including bounce houses, face painting, a game zone, arts and crafts and more. The first 300 guests to check in at the “Enter to Win Tent” will receive a youth Churchill Downs baseball cap. … For the latest information on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.