Stephen Foster Preview Day: Brisset eyes stakes double with World Record, Royal Spa

Churchill Downs media notes by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of World Record winning a Churchill allowance race)

LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, May 29, 2025) – Trainer Rodolphe Brisset will attempt a stakes double Saturday with World Record in the $275,000 Aristides Stakes (Grade III) and Royal Spa in the $275,000 Shawnee Stakes (GIII), part of a stakes-filled afternoon on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs.

Brisset’s day begins in Race 6 where WinStar Farm and BBN Racing’s World Record will step back into graded stakes company for the six-furlong Aristides. The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner won Saratoga’s $200,000 Amsterdam (GII) at 3 and returned with an allowance win earlier this month at Churchill Downs.

“He’s really matured now as a 4-year-old,” Brisset said. “He came out of the allowance race great and has put in two pretty strong works. We like what we’ve seen so far.”

World Record drew the outside post in a field of seven sprinters that includes 7-5 morning line favorite Skelly, who will break from post No. 6.

“Skelly is very fast,” Brisset said. “We have to find out where we belong. Our goal is to try and win a Grade I with him if he’s good enough. To find out, we have to face competition like Skelly. The draw is what it is – we’ll let Flavien (Prat) play the break and go from there. My job is to bring him up to the gate in the best shape possible and then it’s in Flavien’s hands. We think he matches up well in this race. He doesn’t need the lead – he’s won from off the pace before.”

In Race 8, Brisset will saddle Breffni Farm’s Royal Spa in the 1 1/16-mile Shawnee for fillies. The 5-year-old daughter of Violence enters the race off a victory in the one-mile $100,000 Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park.

“It’s a little tricky with Royal Spa because I’ve tried her at two turns twice, once as a 2-year-old and again at 3,” Brisset said. “It didn’t work out well, but I blame the trainer. I wasn’t very nice to her running her back on short rest both times. It looks like now, as a 5-year-old, she’s more mature. I just loved her race last time at Laurel. Even after the wire, the gallop out was solid. (Jockey Mychel Sanchez) called me after the race and said two turns might be worth trying. Then I got a call that Flavien (Prat) lost his mount in the race. So, putting everything together, I think it’s the right spot to try two turns.”

Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Aristides is scheduled as Race 6 at 3:18 p.m. with the Shawnee going as Race 8 at 4:23 p.m.

          The Aristides field in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

• Champlin (Luis Saez, Greg Foley, 6-1)
• Durante (Jose Ortiz, David Jacobson, 15-1)
• Giant Mischief (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 4-1)
• Happy Is a Choice (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 6-1)
• Here Mi Song (Alex Achard, Billy Stinson Jr., 15-1)
• Skelly (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 7-5)
• World Record (Prat, Brisset, 3-1)

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

• Where’s My Ring (Luis Saez, Peter Miller, 5-2)
• Corningstone (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 10=1)
• Royal Spa (Prat, Brisset, 10-1)
• Hoosier Philly (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss, 5-1)
• Wild Bout Hilary (C. J. McMahon, Tanner Tracy, 12-1)
• Alpine Princess (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox. 6-1)
• Gin Gin (Jose Ortiz, Brendan Walsh, 7-2)
• In Just My Heels (Joel Rosario, Ron Moquett, 20-1)
• Free Like a Girl (Julien Leparoux, Chasey Deville Pomier, 4-1)

The Aristides Stakes is a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be held Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The nominated winner will receive a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with the second and third place finishers receiving a $15,000 and $7,500 credit, respectively. 

With the stakes comprising the final six races of the day, there will be an all-stakes sequence for the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot, Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. 

POST TIME MADE 3-1 MORNING LINE FAVORITE IN $275,000 BLAME STAKES – Hillwood Stable’s multiple graded stakes winner Post Time was tabbed as the 3-1 morning line favorite as he takes on a competitive field of older horses, including Kentucky Derby 150 hero Mystik Dan, in Saturday’s $275,000 Blame Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs, the local prep for the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI). 

          Post Time, a Maryland-bred son of Frosted, arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday alongside trainer Brittany Russell’s assistant/exercise rider Emma Wolfe. The 10-time winner schooled in the Churchill Downs paddock Thursday morning and will be ridden by Russell’s husband, Sheldon, in the Blame. 

          Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Blame Stakes field will go to post in Race 10 at 5:27 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m. 

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

• Katonah (Gerardo Corrales, Doug O’Neill, 20-1)
• Alexander Helios (Irad Ortiz Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr., 6-1)
• Antiquarian (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 15-1)
• Mystik Dan (Hernandez, McPeek, 4-1)
• Best Actor (Rafael Bejarano, Ed Moger Jr., 30-1)
• Hall of Fame (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen, 8-1)
• Most Wanted (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 7-2)
• Banishing (Flavien Prat, David Jacobson, 9-2)
• Post Time (Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell, 3-1)
• Tennessee Lamb (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold II, 15-1)

Most Wanted was cross-entered in a one-mile allowance contest on Sunday and is likely to run there, according to trainer Brad Cox.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The four-day racing week at Churchill Downs began Thursday with an eight-race card starting at 5 p.m. Fans on track for the Twilight Thursday program enjoyed $2 domestic beer, live music from Ben Bernhard and local food trucks Con Aji y Café, Hurrikanes, Romiro’s Mexican and Spinelli’s Pizza. There was a $49,397 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot beginning in Race 3. … At the halfway mark of the Spring Meet, Jose Ortiz had a 31-27 lead in the jockey standings over Luis Saez. Joe Sharp was the leading trainer with 11 wins, four more than Mark Casse.Godolphin was the leading owner with four victories. … Friday’s episode of “Inside Churchill Downs” will feature a full rundown of Stephen Foster Preview Day. The one-hour program will stream live on www.espnlouisville.com at 6 p.m. and those in the Louisville area can listen live on ESPN 680/105.7. … Thursday morning paddock schoolers included Calumet Farm’s Doubledogdare (GIII) winner Gin Gin, who’s listed at odds of 7-2 for the Shawnee Stakes. … Sunday’s fourth race at Churchill Downs marks the debut of St Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables’ $1.75 million purchase Cannoneer. The Brad Cox-trained son of Into Mischief will break from post No. 4 as the 2-1 morning line favorite. … Jockey Corey Lanerieentered Thursday 10 wins shy of tying Calvin Borel for second in the all-time standings at Churchill Downs with 1,232 wins. Pat Day holds the record with 2,482 wins. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visitwww.churchilldowns.com