The 124th running of the $225,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (Listed) takes place on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Churchill Downs, featuring a competitive field of seven 2-year-old colts sprinting six furlongs on dirt. This juvenile stakes race has historically produced future stars, and this year’s edition is packed with promising pedigrees, elite jockeys, and powerhouse trainers.
Full Field & Post Positions
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Spice Runner | Jose L. Ortiz | Steve Asmussen | 5/2 |
| 2 | Longstrider | Edgar Morales | Genaro Garcia | 12/1 |
| 3 | Duke of Suggins | James Graham | Al Stall Jr. | 12/1 |
| 4 | Romeo | Xavier Perez | John Robb | 9/2 |
| 5 | Comport | Luis Saez | Eddie Kenneally | 3/1 |
| 6 | Saul Elliott | Antonio Fresu | Doug O’Neill | 4/1 |
| 7 | Password | Flavien Prat | Rodolphe Brisset | 7/2 |
Pedigree & Performance Analysis
Spice Runner (Gun Runner – Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen (7-time Bashford Manor winner)
Pedigree Notes: Full brother to Gunite, a multiple Grade 1 winner. Gun Runner is a top-tier juvenile sire.
Debut: Dominant 2¼-length win at Churchill; adds blinkers here.
Longstrider (Union Rags – Latest Thinking, by Street Sense)
Trainer: Genaro Garcia
Pedigree Notes: Union Rags brings stamina; dam is from a Juddmonte family.
Debut: 18-1 upset winner at Churchill; showed late kick.
Duke of Suggins (Tom’s d’Etat – Graceful Fancy, by Giant’s Causeway)
Trainer: Al Stall Jr.
Pedigree Notes: Tom’s d’Etat is a rising sire; dam is from a classy turf family.
Debut: Narrow maiden win; showed grit in deep field.
Romeo (Honor A. P. – Fancy Love, by Not For Love)
Trainer: John Robb
Pedigree Notes: Maryland-bred with stamina influences; Honor A. P. was a Derby hopeful.
Form: Won debut by 10¼ lengths at Laurel; third in Tremont Stakes at Saratoga.
Comport (Collected – Bartlett Narrows, by Elusive Quality)
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Pedigree Notes: By Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Collected; dam has sprint influence.
Debut: Wire-to-wire win over Password; sharp early speed.
Saul Elliott (Listing – Cryptic, by Tapit)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Pedigree Notes: First-crop sire Listing (by Square Eddie); dam by Tapit adds class.
Debut: 2¼-length win at Santa Anita; ships in from California.
Password (Uncle Mo – Secret, by Empire Maker)
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Pedigree Notes: Uncle Mo colt with stamina-rich female line; bred by Peter E. Blum.
Debut: Troubled trip behind Comport; closed well for second.
Race Dynamics & Tactical Outlook
Pace Scenario: Expect Spice Runner, Comport, and Saul Elliott to vie for the early lead. Password and Romeo could benefit from a pace meltdown.
Track Bias: Churchill’s main track has favored inside speed in recent juvenile sprints.
Key Factors: Gate break, early positioning, and ability to handle pressure in just their second career start.
Betting Strategy & Prediction
Top Pick: Spice Runner – elite pedigree, top connections, and rail draw with blinkers on.
Value Play: Password – sneaky good debut with trouble; strong pedigree and top rider.
Exotics Threat: Saul Elliott – California invader with high speed figure and upside.
