Race Details
- Venue Location: Turfway Park, 1000 Carriage Hill Drive, Florence, Kentucky 41042.
- Post Time is scheduled for 9:55 p.m. ET (6:55 p.m. PT, 8:55 p.m. CT).
- Race Conditions: $125,000 purse, 1 1/16 miles on All Weather Track, for 4-year-olds and upward. Lasix allowed (noted as “L” for entries). Trophy to the winning owner.
- Expected Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 48°F and low of 30°F. Winds S at 4 mph, humidity around 49%, with a 20% chance of light showers (0.01 inches possible). Mild winter day with potential for brief rain, but mostly dry.
- Track Conditions: All Weather Track expected to be Good, based on the synthetic surface and low precipitation risk. Turfway Park’s all-weather Polytrack favors tactical speed in routes (50% winners from front half), with closers gaining in softer conditions or hot paces.
The Dust Commander Stakes honors the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander, a Kentucky-bred who triumphed at 15-1 odds. This $125,000 event for older routers serves as a key prep for graded spring stakes like the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) or similar. With a field of 10, expect a moderate pace led by speed types like Swiss Slang and Native Shaman, potentially benefiting stalkers such as Encino if duels develop up front.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions and Beyer speed figures where available), pedigree notes, and performance analysis. Morning line odds are from official entries.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position/Beyer Fig) | Analysis |
| 1 | Honor Marie (KY) | Joseph D. Ramos | D. Whitworth Beckman | 5/1 | 1st (95), 2nd (92), 3rd (90) | Consistent stalker; Ramos (aggressive) for Beckman (rising trainer). Pedigree (Honor Code – Dame Marie by Giant’s Causeway) suits routes; rail post aids tactical speed. Recent allowance win sharp; value if pace sets up. Owners: Ribble Farms, LLC. Breeder: Royce Pulliam. |
| 2 | Swiss Slang (KY) | Samuel E. Bermudez | Larry E. Smith | 30/1 | 4th (85), 5th (82), 3rd (80) | Longshot front-runner; Bermudez (underrated) for Smith (local barn). Pedigree (Summer Front – Sky Skier by Appeal to the King) hints at early pace; needs to improve figs. Owners: Samuel Presnell. Breeder: Arthur Stgeorge. |
| 3 | Native Shaman (KY) | Gabriel Saez | George R. Arnold II | 6/1 | 3rd (90), 1st (88), 2nd (85) | Mid-pack performer; Saez (stakes success) for Arnold II (Kentucky specialist). Pedigree (Shaman Ghost – Native Talent by Perfect Soul) adds endurance; board hitter. Owners: Calumet Farm. Breeder: Calumet Farm. |
| 4 | Encino (KY) | Luan Machado | Brad H. Cox | 2/1 | 1st (100), 1st (98), 3rd (95) | Headliner with class; Machado (hot form) for Cox (elite trainer). Pedigree (Nyquist – Glittering Jewel by Bernardini) favors all-weather; recent Prairie Bayou Listed win dominant (gate-to-wire). High upside; morning-line favorite. Owners: Godolphin. Breeder: Godolphin. |
| 5 | Fuego Caliente (KY) | Cory Orm | Eric Foster | 10/1 | 2nd (92), 4th (90), 1st (88) | Stalker; Orm (consistent) for Foster (underrated). Pedigree (Practical Joke – Hot Water by Medaglia d’Oro) provides versatility; recent forms competitive. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 6 | Commander Keith (KY) | Axel Concepcion | Eric Heitzmann | 15/1 | 3rd (88), 2nd (85), 4th (82) | Closer with blinkers on; Concepcion (rising apprentice) for Heitzmann (local). Pedigree (Commander Crowe – Keith’s Kitty by Kitten’s Joy) hints at late punch; needs pace help. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 7 | Howling Time (KY) | Joseph Talamo | Dale Romans | 8/1 | 1st (95), 3rd (92), 2nd (90) | Tactical veteran; Talamo (stakes expert) for Romans (Kentucky success). Pedigree (Not This Time – Werewolf by Arch) adds stamina; good for exotics. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 8 | Double Thunder (KY) | Fernando De La Cruz | Saffie Joseph Jr. | 12/1 | 4th (88), 1st (85), 3rd (82) | Mid-pack type; De La Cruz (aggressive) for Joseph Jr. (stakes hits). Pedigree (Super Saver – Rattataptap by Tapit) offers versatility; exotic filler. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 9 | Lord Dragon (KY) | Albin Jimenez | George Leonard III | 20/1 | 5th (85), 3rd (82), 4th (80) | Longshot closer; Jimenez (local) for Leonard III (underrated). Pedigree (Lord Nelson – Dragon by Speightstown) provides rally; value if overlooked. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 10 | Money Supply (KY) | Adam Beschizza | Joe Sharp | 6/1 | 2nd (92), 4th (90), 1st (88) | Stalker; Beschizza (consistent) for Sharp (stakes success). Pedigree (Practical Joke – Bide a Wee by Adios Charlie) suits all-weather; competitive. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
Series History
- All-Time: The Dust Commander Stakes, in its 13th running, honors the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander. Inaugurated in 2014 at Turfway Park, it has featured winners like Ocean Atlantique (2024) and There Goes Harvard (2023).
- Recent Trends: Favorites have won 5 of the last 8 editions, with speed holding in 60% of all-weather routes at this distance. Closers board in 65% of contested paces; average exacta payout $50.
