Lovell-trained Doncho sets course record in edging Joe Shiesty
Churchill Downs stakes recap by the track’s media team (Coady Media/Kurtis Coady photo of Doncho winning Saturday’s Mighty Beau under Jaime Torres)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 6, 2026) – Doncho ran down defending race champ Joe Shiesty in deep stretch to win Saturday’s 10th running of the $224,500 Mighty Beau Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length in course record time.
Doncho, trained by Michelle Lovell, ran five furlongs on “firm” turf in a course and stakes record :55.01 under Jaime Torres to collect his third career stakes win for owner Jose A. Lopez’s JAL Racing LLC. The 5-year-old gelding eclipsed Australian-bred Power Alert’s 2015 mark of :55.17.
“We knew we had a great horse today and just wanted to get it done,” Lopez said. “It was great work by Michelle Lovell and her team to get him ready today. I’m so grateful to be here today at Churchill Downs with such an incredible horse and break another track record.”
Joe Shiesty zipped early fractions of :21.30 and :43.39 as Doncho broke well from post No. 4 but fell back into third as Schwarzmeier pressured the leader for three furlongs. Leaving the turn, Doncho shot between those two horses and matched strides with Joe Shiesty down the stretch from the outside but inched clear inside the final furlong for the win.
Doncho, who rebounded from a last-place finish as the favorite in the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel Park on April 18, earned $136,330 for the win and improved his career record to 6-0-1 in 12 starts with earnings of $482,881. Those victories included an Ellis Park allowance race last summer.
“We’re so proud of his effort today,” Lovell said. “We know he has a lot of talent and he proved it today. His last race was a tough situation of him needing a race off the layoff. He came back to Kentucky and trained really well going into this race. I’m so thankful for Jose Lopez and our entire team to get the job done today.”
Sent to post at 12-1 in the field of seven older horses, Doncho paid $27.92, $10.46 and $5.06. The Eric Foster-trained and co-owned Joe Shiesty, the 7-5 favorite under Fernando De La Cruz, returned $3.72 and $2.56. Troubleshooting, at odds of 3-2, was another neck back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paid $2.34 to show.
Okiro, Mondogetsbuckets, Schwarmeier and Sweet Dani Boy completed the order of finish. Nothing Better, No Nay Hudson (IRE) and Works for Me were scratched.
At age 3, Doncho won the $150,000 Gold Fever at Aqueduct. Last year, he captured the $151,200 Da Hoss at Colonial Downs.
A gelded son of Mo Town out of the Henny Hughes mare Sassy Redhead, Doncho was bred in Kentucky by Susan Young. Doncho sold for $32,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, and then again to Lopez for $72,000 as the OBS June 2-year-old auction.
The Mighty Beau is named in honor of graded stakes winner Mighty Beau, who boasted a record of 75-12-19-10—$646,000 from 2001-08. The Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Rainbow Prospect made a record five starts in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (then known as the Aegon Turf Sprint) from 2002-06, winning the race in 2005 at age 6 for owners Mike Cloonan and Anthony Carolan, trainer Jeff Mullins and jockey Pat Valenzuela.
Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). There are two stakes events: the Grade III, $500,000 Matt Winn (Race 8 at 4:22 p.m.) and $225,000 Leslie’s Lady (Race 6 at 3:18 p.m.). Sunday doubles as Family Adventure Day, featuring more than 15 kid-friendly activities for children under 12. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
MIGHTY BEAU QUOTES
Michelle Lovell, trainer, Doncho, winner: “We’re so proud of his effort today. We know he has a lot of talent and he proved it today. His last race (in the April 18 King Leatherbury at Laurel) was a tough situation of him needing a race off the layoff. He came back to Kentucky and trained really well going into this race. I’m so thankful for (owner) Jose Lopez and our entire team to get the job done today.”
Jose Lopez, owner, Doncho, winner: “We knew we had a great horse today and just wanted to get it done. It was great work by Michelle Lovell and her team to get him ready today. I’m so grateful to be here today at Churchill Downs with such an incredible horse and break another track record.”
