Roll On Big Joe does just that in Bet on Sunshine
Churchill Downs stakes recap by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/John Rowland photo of Roll On Big Joe winning the Bet on Sushine under Julien Leparoux)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025) – Roll On Big Joe put away pacesetter Glengarry leaving the turn and drew away in the stretch to win Saturday’s 17th running of the $269,500 Bet On Sunshine Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs by 4 ½ lengths over Mondogetsbuckets.
This was the third sprinting stakes win of the year for Roll On Big Joe and second at Churchill Downs.
Roll On Big Joe clocked six furlongs on a “fast” track in a swift 1:09.58 under jockey Julien Leparoux who rode for trainer Bob Hess Jr. and owners Rancho Temescal LLC (Tim Cohen), Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners (Joseph Miller), White Fence LLC (David Marabella) and Richard Hale Jr.
The win was worth $151,900 and the 5-year-old gelding’s record improved to 21-8-6-1—$666,425. In February, Roll On Big Joe prevailed in the $100,000 Palos Verdes (GIII) at Santa Anita and also won the $220,000 Kelly’s Landing (Grade III) at Churchill Downs in June.
Glengarry set the pace by leading the field of seven older horses through a first quarter mile in :22.38 as Roll On Big Joe tracked in third. Roll On Big Joe asserted himself to the lead leaving turn and clocked a half-mile in :45.29 before he widened his margin from a length to 4 ½ lengths to the finish as Mondogetsbuckets rallied past Durante for the place position.
“He was traveling great the entire race for me,” Leparoux said. “He relaxed beautifully. I wanted to get him started early, but not too early. He just exploded and finished up very well at the end.”
Roll On Big Joe returned $7.12, $4.44 and $3 as the 5-2 favorite. Mondogetsbuckets, under Alex Concepcion at 13-1, paid $11 and $5.36. Durante, another 1 ½ lengths back in third with Cristian Torres aboard, returned $3.58 to show as the 3-1 second betting choice.
Surveillance, Ajaayb, Champlin and Glengarry completed the order of finish.
Roll On Big Joe is a 5-year-old gelded son of Prospective out of the Victory Gallop mare Nina’s Gift. He was bred by Max Ubide.
The Bet On Sunshine is named for the 13-time stakes winning sprinter who won back-to-back runnings of the Aristides Handicap (Grade III). Trained by Paul McGee, Bet On Sunshine posted a record of 22-7-10 and $1,449,892 from 47 starts between 1995-2002 for owner David P. Holloway Racing Inc. The Florida-bred son of Big Bet finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) twice behind Elmhurst and Hesabull in 1997 at Hollywood Park and behind Kona Gold and the filly Honest Lady in 2000 at Churchill Downs. He also ran in the 2001 Sprint but finished 13th. Bet On Sunshine won eight of 20 starts at Churchill Downs with four seconds and four thirds.
BET ON SUNSHINE QUOTES
Julien Leparoux, jockey, Roll On Big Joe (winner): “He was traveling great the entire race for me. He relaxed beautifully. I wanted to get him started early, but not too early. He just exploded and finished up very well at the end.”
Axel Concepcion, jockey, Mondogetsbuckets (runner-up): “He ran hard and fought on well down the stretch. The winner just kept on going.”
