Churchill Downs Update: Kentucky Derby Alumn Chunk of Gold Heads Back to Churchill Downs as 8-5 Favorite in Saturday's $300,000 Bourbon Flight

Sep 17, 2025

Terry Stephens’ West Virginia Derby (Grade III) winner Chunk of Gold, who finished ninth in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), will return to Churchill Downs as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbon Flight. The 3-year-old colt was cross-entered in Friday’s $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park, where he drew post 11, but his connections opted for the Bourbon Flight.

Trained by Ethan West, Chunk of Gold finished ninth in Kentucky Derby 151 before a strong summer campaign that included a runner-up finish in the Ohio Derby (GIII) and a convincing victory in the West Virginia Derby.

“Jareth (Loveberry) did a great job to get ‘Chunk’ into a good position on the lead and he was very impressive that night,” West said. “I think he fits very well with the field Saturday and has a really good post.”

Loveberry has the return call on Chunk of Gold in the Bourbon Flight and will break from post No. 5.

“He’s doing great at Turfway and not to say he can’t handle shipping because he’s done great doing so going to Louisiana this winter along with Ohio and West Virginia,” West said. “But this will give him a good opportunity to return to Churchill where he ran well in the Derby and it’s a quick van ride down I-71.”

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.

Four others are cross-entered in both the Bourbon Flight and St. Louis Derby: Admiral Dennis, Brotha Keny, Excite and Hypnus.

Trainer Kenny McPeek reported Hypnus is likely to run in the St. Louis Derby.

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

Run Quiet Run Fast (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Gerardo Rodriguez, 30-1)
Brotha Keny (Jose Ortiz, Bill Morey, 6-1)
Excite (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bill Mott, 5-1)
Hypnus (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 8-1)
Chunk of Gold (Loveberry, West, 8-5)
Whiskey Shot (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset, 20-1)
Admiral Dennis (Luan Machado, Brad Cox, 2-1)
Just a Fair Shake (Axel Concepcion, Daniel McKenzie, 15-1)
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.

WEEK 2 OF CHURCHILL DOWNS SEPTEMBER MEET FEATURES 12 JUVENILE RACES – Week 2 of the Churchill Downs September Meet features 12 races for 2-year-olds, highlighted by full fields and strong pedigrees.

Wednesday’s card included three juvenile events: a duo of restricted maiden special weights for fillies who sold or RNA’d for $65,000 or less at their most recent auction and a $30,000 maiden claimer.

Thursday’s program offers two 2-year-old events: a six-furlong maiden special weight in Race 6 and a restricted maiden special weight in Race 4.

Friday’s action is led by a seven-furlong maiden special weight in Race 5 and a $30,000 maiden claimer in Race 3. The fifth race will mark the third start for Tagermeen, a $1.4 million purchase at the 2025 OBS April Sale.

Saturday’s card includes three 2-year-old races, headlined by split divisions of a turf maiden special weight in Races 5 and 11. Race 5 features R Bee Gee, a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) winner Moira. The field also includes Alas, out of multiple stakes winner Athena and a sibling to Raven Run (GII) winner Emery, and Secretly Delighted, a half-sister to Jessamine (GII) winner Sweet Melania.

The second division includes A.P.’s Girl, a half-sister to Fort Bragg, winner of the Dwyer (GIII) and St. Matthews Overnight Stakes. Saturday’s card opens with a $50,000 maiden claimer with seven juvenile fillies.

Sunday’s program features back-to-back juvenile races: Race 3, a $30,000 maiden claimer, and Race 4, a turf maiden special weight. The latter includes Good Willie, a full brother to 2019 Regret (GIII) winner Hard Legacy; Swerve, a half-brother to 2023 Regret winner Mission of Joy; and Very Connected, a full brother to 2021 Pocahontas (GIII) winner Hidden Connection.

SATURDAY CARD FEATURES FOUR STAKES LED BY GRADE III, $300,000 DOGWOOD PRESENTED BY RESOLUTE RACING – Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs features a quartet of stakes action led by the $300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing.

Here are the fields for each of the four stakes (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

$300,000 Harrods Creek (Race 7, 3:54 p.m.):

Optical (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 15-1)
Semper Primus (Walter Rodriguez, Jimmy DiVito, 4-1)
Jimmy’s Dailys (Jose Ortiz, Brian Lynch, 7-2)
U Devil You (Edgar Morales, John Ortiz, 6-1)
Smoken Wicked (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 8-5)
Faster Gator (Jaime Torres, Anthony Farrior, 3-1)
$175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) (Race 8, 4:26 p.m.):

Immersive (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 6-5)
Next Up (Mario Gutierrez, Matt Sims, 12-1)
Ivory and Ebony (Jose Ortiz, Dale Romans, 8-1)
Decadent (Manny Esquivel, Kenny McPeek, 8-1)
Liam in the Dust (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset, 6-1)
Flash Wear (Corey Lanerie, Tommy Vance, 12-1)
Quickick (Brian Hernandez Jr., Tom Amoss, 5-2)
$300,000 Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing (Race 9, 4:58 p.m.):

Echo Sound (Florent Geroux, Rusty Arnold II, 9-5)
Gerlin’s Empire (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 20-1)
Kay Cup (Jaime Torres, Jorge Abreu, 8-1)
Ragtime (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 2-1)
Strong State (James Graham, Al Stall Jr., 15-1)
Sturgeon Moon (Cristian Torres, Will Walden, 10-1)
Delightful Claire (Jose Ortiz, Phil Bauer, 3-1)
Mega Mil (Axel Concepcion, John Servis, 20-1)
$300,000 Bourbon Flight (Race 10, 5:29 p.m.):

Run Quiet Run Fast (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Gerardo Rodriguez, 30-1)
Brotha Keny (Jose Ortiz, Bill Morey, 6-1)
Excite (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bill Mott, 5-1)
Hypnus (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 8-1)
Chunk of Gold (Loveberry, West, 8-5)
Whiskey Shot (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset, 20-1)
Admiral Dennis (Machado, Cox, 2-1)
Just a Fair Shake (Axel Concepcion, Daniel McKenzie, 15-1)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Wednesday’s nine-race card got underway at 12:45 p.m. and included a $54,866 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot starting in Race 4. The $3 Late Pick 3 began in Race 7. … Thursday’s Twilight Thursday program includes $2 domestic beer, live music by Ben Bernhard and local food trucks Bamba Egg Rolls, Black Rock Grille, HurriKanes, Ramiros and Red Top Dogs. Friday is Senior Day with discounted tickets on Millionaires’ Row for guests 60 and older. Sunday is Family Adventure Day: Purple Takeover featuring a meet-and-greet with stars from professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville along with 15 kid-friendly activities. … For more information about the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.