$100K claim Fibber seeks another stakes win in Dogwood
Today’s Churchill Downs barn notes by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of Fibber winning Aug. 11 Audubon Oaks)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Sept. 20, 2024) – Since joining trainer Chris Hartman’s barn in late May, Fibber has shown she’s worth every penny of her $100,000 claiming price, and she’s set to prove it again Saturday in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Dogwood Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
The 3-year-old daughter of Frosted, owned by Flatland Racing Stable, has been in top form since moving to Hartman’s barn in late May, winning both of her starts for her new connections. After a victory in a conditioned allowance contest in June at Churchill Downs, she followed that up with a win in the Aug. 11 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park that pushed her earnings to $365,700.
“We really liked this filly even before she was in for the $100,000 claiming tag,” Hartman said. “She’s been very impressive so far in both of her wins with us. She’s always run solid races, even last year as a 2-year-old. Last time out at Ellis, she proved she really liked the seven-eighths distance.”
Fibber initially raced under trainer Bret Calhoun and won her first two career starts before being claimed on May 25. She will break from post No. 2 in the seven-furlong Dogwood with jockey Axel Concepcion aboard.
Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs features four stakes events across the 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Dogwood going as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. The stakes action begins with the $300,000 Bourbon Flight in Race 7, followed by the $300,000 Harrods Creek in Race 9 and concluding with the $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes (Listed) in Race 10.
Here is the field for the Dogwood Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):
- Uphill Dance (Tyler Gaffalione, Bill Mott, 15-1)
- Fibber (Concepcion, Hartman, 3-1)
- Reagan’s Flame (Francisco Arrieta, Lindsay Schultz, 15-1)
- Cap Classique (Corey Lanerie, Brittany Russell, 12-1)
- My Mane Squeeze (Luis Saez, Mike Maker, 5-2)
- Neom Beach (Cristian Torres, Steve Asmussen, 10-1)
- Manama Gold (Ramon Vazquez, Todd Pletcher, 6-1)
- Legadema (Gerardo Corrales, Phil Bauer, 8-1)
- Halina’s Forte (Junior Alvarado, Phil Bauer, 9-2)
KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MYSTIK DAN RESUMES UNDER-TACK TRAINING AT MAGDALENA FARM – Mystik Dan has resumed under-tack training at Kenny McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Lexington as the Kentucky Derby 150 winner attempts to get back in form after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (GI).
Owned by Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan was training over the summer at Saratoga but McPeek opted to give the colt time off following his Triple Crown campaign.
“He looks fantastic. There’s a whole lot of hind quarter back on him,” McPeek said. “This is going to do him a lot of good.”
Mystik Dan is being ridden at Magdalena Farm by retired jockey Robby Albarado, who most notably partnered with McPeek in 2020 when Swiss Skydiver won the Preakness Stakes (GI). When Albarado retired from the saddle in 2021 he began working for McPeek, including riding Mystik Dan when he was a 2-year-old.
McPeek stated he had no immediate target in mind for the Goldencents colt
TWINSPIRES.COM TO OFFER $1,000 NHC/BCBC QUALIFYER ON SATURDAY– TwinSpires.com will offer players a $1,000 entry fee tournament Saturday afternoon with races from Churchill Downs and Parx, awarding cash prizes along with guaranteed seats to compete in the National Handicapping Championship and Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge.
Players must wager Win, Place, Show, Exacta and Daily Double wagers using a $600 bankroll across at least 10 specified races from Churchill Downs and Parx. The additional $400 will go to the prize pool. A guaranteed one entry to the BCBC and two entries to the NHC will be awarded to the top three winners of the tournament.
More information and registration is available here: https://www.twinspires.com/bet/tournaments/70/details
DOWN THE STRETCH – There were no winning tickets in Thursday’s Derby City 6 Jackpot which made the carryover jump to $214,401. The sequence spanned Races 5-9 on Friday. … Sunday is Family Adventure Day and is the perfect event for everyone in the family to experience a fun-filled day at Churchill Downs. There will be more than 15 kid-friendly activities for children under 12 to enjoy, including stick-horse races; face painting; inflatables; bubble station; game zone; arts and craft station; and an appearance by Kona ice truck and DonutNV. Guests are encouraged to bring up to five cans of soup to help support Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter and win opportunities for special Family Adventure Day experiences, including a personal meet and greet with popular track bugler Steve Buttleman. The day also will mark the second annual Thoroughbred Aftercare Day to introduce young learners to the interesting life of Thoroughbreds after retirement and bring awareness of family opportunities to engage with these magnificent animals after their career in racing. Children may attend for free with paying adult (who is at least 18 years old with a valid ID). Limit two children per paying adult. Additional children will require the purchase of a full price general admission ticket. Reserved Seating: Children under the age of 2 may attend for free, provided the child must be held or on the lap of an adult; children ages 2-12 or any child that needs his or her own seat, will require the purchase of a child’s or full price ticket.
