Three of the top four finishers from the March 1 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) will square off again in the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Special Wan, who has won two of her three North American starts for trainer Brendan Walsh, looks to add another win to her résumé as she makes her second start of 2025. The 5-year-old mare captured the Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park for owners Team Valor International and Steven Rocco. Prior to that, the Irish-bred daughter of Belardo finished a troubled seventh behind Gina Romantica in the First Lady Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 5. Luis Saez has the mount Saturday.
Chad Brown, who is hoping to make this his fifth consecutive victory in the Distaff Turf Mile sends out Klaravich Stables' Tax Implications, fourth behind Special Wan in the Honey Fox, and longshot Venencia, who finished third behind stablemate Saffron Moon in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) at Tampa Bay Downs March 8. Flavien Prat will be aboard Tax Implications, and Manny Franco will ride Venencia for owners Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Cambron Equine, and Team Hanley.
Poolside With Slim ran third in the Honey Fox and will look to return to form Saturday for trainer Rusty Arnold and owners Glenn S. Bromagen ll, Patrick Lewis, and Sandra Bromagen. The 4-year-old filly's last win came in the Valley View Stakes (G2T) Oct. 25 at Keeneland, and her most recent effort was a fifth-place finish in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) April 12 at Keeneland. Joel Rosario will ride her for the first time Saturday.
Sacred Wish, a 5-year-old daughter of Not This Time will break from post 6 for trainer George Weaver. She ran fourth in the Jenny Wiley last out. The mare has proved her tenacity and talent in winning the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 1 at Del Mar, defeating some of the country's best turf mares in Gina Romantica, Ag Bullet, and Tax Implications. John Velazquez will ride for owners Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn, and Anthony Spinazzola.
Saffe Joseph Jr. sends out Movin' On Up who comes into the race off back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park in an allowance optional claiming race and most recently the Sand Springs Stakes March 29. The 4-year-old daughter of Accelerate is owned by Ken Ramsey and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Entries: Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G2T)
Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 3, 2025, Race 5
- Grade IIT
- 1m
- Turf
- $750,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 1:12 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Venencia (FR) | Manuel Franco | 118 | Chad C. Brown | 15/1 |
| 2 | 2Movin' On Up (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 118 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 5/1 |
| 3 | 3Pin Up Betty (KY) | Juan J. Hernandez | 118 | Michael J. Maker | 12/1 |
| 4 | 4Serene Seraph (IRE) | Junior Alvarado | 118 | William I. Mott | 20/1 |
| 5 | 5Five Towns (GB) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 118 | H. Graham Motion | 10/1 |
| 6 | 6Sacred Wish (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 123 | George Weaver | 3/1 |
| 7 | 7Tax Implications (GB) | Flavien Prat | 118 | Chad C. Brown | 5/1 |
| 8 | 8Poolside With Slim (IRE) | Joel Rosario | 120 | George R. Arnold II | 8/1 |
| 9 | 9Simply in Front (KY) | Lanfranco Dettori | 118 | Eddie Kenneally | 15/1 |
| 10 | 10Special Wan (IRE) | Luis Saez | 118 | Brendan P. Walsh | 5/2 |
