The $200,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes, a six-furlong dirt sprint for four-year-olds and up, is set to take place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Churchill Downs. This competitive field of ten horses features a mix of seasoned sprinters and emerging talents, making for an exciting and fast-paced contest.
Field Overview
1. Henro
- Pedigree: Sired by Collected out of Street Minstrel (Street Cry).
- Trainer: Chris A. Hartman.
- Jockey: Rafael Bejarano.
- Morning Line Odds: 15-1.
- Analysis: Henro has shown flashes of brilliance, with five wins in 14 career starts. However, his recent form has been inconsistent, and he will need to step up to contend in this competitive field.
2. Miles Ahead
- Pedigree: Sired by Competitive Edge out of Jennie R.
- Trainer: Paul J. McGee.
- Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez.
- Morning Line Odds: 10-1.
- Analysis: This eight-year-old gelding is a veteran of the sprinting ranks, with multiple stakes wins to his name. His experience and tactical speed make him a potential upset candidate.
3. Speed Boat Beach
- Pedigree: Sired by Bayern out of Sophia Mia.
- Trainer: Bob Baffert.
- Jockey: Flavien Prat.
- Morning Line Odds: 5/2 (Favorite).
- Analysis: The morning-line favorite, Speed Boat Beach, has been a consistent performer in graded stakes company. His pedigree and connections make him the horse to beat in this field.
4. Happy Is a Choice
- Pedigree: Sired by Runhappy out of Fast Alexia.
- Trainer: John Alexander Ortiz.
- Jockey: Mike E. Smith.
- Morning Line Odds: 4-1.
- Analysis: This gelding has been in excellent form, winning three of his last five starts. His speed and ability to handle pressure make him a strong contender.
5. Fort Bragg
- Pedigree: Sired by Tapit out of March X Press.
- Trainer: Bob Baffert.
- Jockey: Juan J. Hernandez.
- Morning Line Odds: 6-1.
- Analysis: Fort Bragg is another talented runner from the Baffert barn. While he has yet to win at this level, his pedigree and recent workouts suggest he is ready to compete.
6. Red Flag
- Pedigree: Sired by Tamarkuz out of Surrender.
- Trainer: Robert B. Hess Jr.
- Jockey: Julien R. Leparoux.
- Morning Line Odds: 20-1.
- Analysis: Red Flag has struggled to find his best form recently but has shown flashes of talent in the past. He will need a career-best effort to contend here.
7. Bango
- Pedigree: Sired by Congrats out of Josaka.
- Trainer: Gregory D. Foley.
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Morning Line Odds: 8-1.
- Analysis: Bango is a Churchill Downs specialist, with multiple wins at this track. His familiarity with the surface and strong closing kick make him a live longshot.
8. Champlin
- Pedigree: Sired by Ransom the Moon out of Now I Know.
- Trainer: Gregory D. Foley.
- Jockey: Luis Saez.
- Morning Line Odds: 10-1.
- Analysis: Champlin has been consistent in allowance company and will look to step up in class. His tactical speed could make him a factor in the early stages.
9. Happy American
- Pedigree: Sired by Runhappy out of Queen of America.
- Trainer: David Jacobson.
- Jockey: Joel Rosario.
- Morning Line Odds: 12-1.
- Analysis: Happy American has been competitive in graded stakes company and could surprise with a strong performance here.
10. Valentine Candy
- Pedigree: Sired by Justify out of Taste Like Candy.
- Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen.
- Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz.
- Morning Line Odds: 9/2.
- Analysis: This four-year-old colt has been improving with each start and boasts a strong pedigree. His recent form suggests he is ready to compete at this level.
Race Dynamics
The pace is expected to be fast, with Speed Boat Beach and Happy Is a Choice likely to vie for the early lead. Horses like Bango and Valentine Candy could benefit from a strong pace, closing late to challenge the leaders.
