The Grade I Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes, a $1 million turf race, is set to take place on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs. This 1 1/8-mile event features a competitive field of 12 accomplished runners, each vying for victory in this prestigious graded stakes race.
Race Details
- Track: Churchill Downs
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles (Turf)
- Purse: $1,000,000
- Age Eligibility: 4-year-olds & up
- Post Time: 5:39 PM ET
Horses, Jockeys, Trainers & Pedigrees
1. Integration (USA) – Quality Road x Harmonize (Scat Daddy)
- Trainer: Shug McGaughey
- Jockey: Frankie Dettori
- Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing
- Age: 5YO Horse
- Recent Form: Runner-up in the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T).
2. Gold Phoenix (IRE) – Belardo (IRE) x Magnifica
- Trainer: Philip D’Amato
- Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
- Owner: Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify
- Age: 7YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Three-time Del Mar Handicap (G2T) winner, finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) the past two years.
3. Highway Robber (USA) – Hard Spun x Yabba
- Trainer: Brian Lynch
- Jockey: Declan Cannon
- Owner: Susan & Jim Hill
- Age: 5YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Won the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland, making his first start since competing in Dubai.
4. Redistricting (GB) – Kingman (GB) x Cascata (IRE)
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Owner: Klaravich Stables
- Age: 5YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Finished sixth in the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T).
5. Idratherbeblessed (USA) – Unified x Celestial Smile
- Trainer: Chris Hartman
- Jockey: Ben Curtis
- Owner: JD Thoroughbreds & Wayne Scherr
- Age: 5YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Pulled off an upset victory in the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T).
6. Taking Candy (USA) – Twirling Candy x Taking Aim
- Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Owner: Lael Stables
- Age: 5YO Horse
- Recent Form: Won his last race at Fair Grounds, showing strong closing speed.
7. Running Bee (USA) – English Channel x Our Joy
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Owner: Calumet Farm
- Age: 6YO Horse
- Recent Form: Won the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) in February, showing career-best form.
8. Cameo Performance (USA) – Oscar Performance x La Moneda
- Trainer: Brendan Walsh
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Owner: Qatar Racing, Fergus Galvin & Marc Detampel
- Age: 4YO Colt
- Recent Form: Finished third in the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T).
9. Mercante (USA) – Gun Runner x Caressing
- Trainer: Brian Knippenberg
- Jockey: Joe Ramos
- Owner: Carl Pollard
- Age: 5YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Mid-pack finisher in his last race, looking for improvement.
10. Spirit of St Louis (USA) – Medaglia d’Oro x Khancord Kid
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Jockey: Manny Franco
- Owner: Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Richard Schermerhorn
- Age: 6YO Gelding
- Recent Form: Won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) but finished fourth in the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T).
11. Brilliant Berti (USA) – Noble Mission (GB) x Believe in Bertie
- Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Owner: Klein Racing
- Age: 4YO Colt
- Recent Form: Finished off the board in his last race, looking to rebound.
12. Gigante (USA) – Not This Time x Summertime Green
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- Jockey: Joel Rosario
- Owner: L and N Racing & Clark Brewster
- Age: 5YO Horse
- Recent Form: Runner-up in the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T).
Race Analysis & Predictions
Top Contenders:
- Integration (4/1 odds) – Consistent performer, looking for his first Grade 1 win.
- Spirit of St Louis (9/2 odds) – Pegasus Turf winner, aiming to bounce back.
- Running Bee (5/1 odds) – In career-best form, coming off a strong win.
- Gold Phoenix (10/1 odds) – Proven turf performer, shipping in from California.
Dark Horses:
- Idratherbeblessed (15/1 odds) – Pulled off an upset in the Muniz Memorial Classic.
- Gigante (15/1 odds) – Runner-up in the Muniz, could surprise.
