Eclatant, Usha to Battle Under Lights in Chicago Stakes

The $300,000 Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs features a grade 1 throwdown June 20 under the lights. Top-level stakes winners Eclatant and Usha are set to duel in the former Arlington International Racecourse stakes fixture. Four other stakes winners are among the eight fillies and mares in the 7-furlong race, a group led by late-running grade 2 winner Zeitlos. Post time for the Chicago, the ninth race during a Downs After Dark program, is 10:14 p.m. ET. Stonestreet Stables' homebred Eclatant brings in stellar form and is favored at 6-5 on the morning line. The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief secured victory last time out in the April 5 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, rallying from just off the pace to catch Grand Job by a nose in a head-bobbing finish. The Madison was a fast, high-quality race. Runner-up Grand Job returned with another nose defeat when second to Ways and Means in the June 5 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, and distant Madison show finisher R Disaster upset the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. The Madison triumph was Eclatant's second in as many starts in 2026, following a 3-year-old campaign highlighted by success in the 2025 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Although unraced for over two months, Eclantant should fire fresh. She scored on debut in June 2024, and since that unveiling, she is 4-0-1 in six starts when given more than 45 days of rest between races. She is 5-0-1 in eight races overall with $705,073 in earnings, second most in the field behind the far more experienced Zeitlos, who has amassed almost $1.4 million in earnings for owner Peter Leidel. Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Eclatant to victory for trainer Brad Cox in the Madison, returns in the irons. Second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is Usha, last year's La Brea Stakes (G1) winner at Santa Anita Park who has since raced twice at Churchill Downs. The Bob Baffert trainee showed in the Derby City Distaff before most recently earning a hard-fought victory in the 6-furlong Winning Colors Stakes (G3) May 25 in which she edged Zeitlos and fellow Chicago stakes competitor Foie Gras in a three-horse photo. Hall of Fame trainer Baffert trains the chestnut daughter of Tiz the Law for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Winless in four starts as a 2-year-old, she has since gone 4-for-6 in two subsequent annual campaigns. Several others bring credentials that could make the race more than a two-horse affair. The Steve Asmussen-trained Zeitlos was charging at Usha before falling a head short in the Winning Colors, and Foie Gras, conditioned by Mike Maker, was just another neck behind after challenging from the start. Comebacking stakes winner Lotsandlotsofcandy appears the one to catch with a return to her preferred surface on dirt for trainer Paul McGee. As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen program, the top three finishers from the Chicago stakes earn credits toward entry fees into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) this fall at Keeneland.