Baby Talk Info & Intel: Churchill Downs – Race 1 – Saturday, June 28, 2025

Five Furlongs on the dirt for the boys, and we’ve got nine colts set to knock heads. First-Crop sire Charlatan has two entered. His classmates, By My Standards and Yaupon also each has one entered. Other sires of note in this one include: City of Light, Bolt d’Oro, and Vino Rosso. Trainer Steve Asmussen has two that he’ll saddle, and only one runner in the field has previously been out in the afternoon. Let’s get after it…

#1 Prince of Light (6/1) – Dixiana Farm’s homebred colt is by City of Light (14.4%), and his mom is by Malibu Moom. She only scored once in 12 opportunities in the afternoon, but that was her second start as a juvenile at Gulfstream Park West – she ended with $69,000 in earnings. In the breeding shed, she’s tossed three other foals of racing age, one that was victorious at SAR in their 4^th try as a baby. Trainer Brendan Walsh (3/12, 25.0%) has been reading him for today’s debut with eight breezes, the first five at Turfway Park and the most recent three at Churchill (29 furlongs). Her fastest was a three panel work at TP on 5/22/25, which he covered in 36 seconds flat to earn a small bullet (1/6). In his last work, he broke like a rocket out of the gate, but appeared to be outworked by Signatory Man, who recently finished fourth in his debut here at CD.

#2 The Standard (9/2) – The first of two in this race, conditioned by Steve Asmussen (24.1%), is a colt by First-Season sire, By My Standards, who is looking for his first winner from four prior starters. His winless dam (in three starts) is by Speightstown, and she’s thrown one other foal of racing age. The hammer fell heavily on this guy last year for $200K as a yearling (1/30 with the second highest in his class only going for $55,000). The Standard has also worked eight times leading up to today’s first race, with the first seven coming in Lexington at Keeneland, and his last was over today’s Churchill oval (31 furlongs). He’s had a couple of quick drills, but his speediest was on 5/25/25 when he earned an impressive bullet going a half mile in 47 seconds flat (1/75). In his workout videos, he looks to do his work quite willingly.

#4 I C Light (7/2) – The first of two in here from Charlatan (two winners from four starters) was produced by a mare by Into Mischief, who was unable to score a victory from nine afternoon tries. She’s thrown one other foal of racing age. Today’s competitor brought $130K as a weanling (17/19) before being wheeled back last year, but he didn’t fetch his reserve of $235K. Trainer Mark Casse (5/46, 10.9%) has only put six 4f works into him (24 furlongs), the first two at KEE and the last two at CD. Last out, on 6/21/25, he stopped the timer in 46.8 seconds (5/128). In that drill, he went along nicely and never let his 3YO workmate, winner of $200K, pass him.

#6 Track Legend (3/1) – The slight Morning Line favorite comes out of the barn of D. Wayne Lukas (2/17, 11.8%), who recently stepped down from his training duties because of medical challenges. This colt is the other Charlatan (two winners from four starters) in this affair, and his mama (by Malibu Moon) was a dandy on the track, winning eight of 18 starts and over half a million dollars, including two Grade 2 events. She’s produced two other foals of racing age. Today’s colt demanded $550K as a yearling from Lisa Lazarus (7/106). Six breezes over the Churchill oval (22 furlongs) have been her preparation for today’s first race. In her most recent on 6/18/25, she fired a nice bullet going four panels in 46.8 seconds (1/51). However, on 6/11/25, he seemed to get outworked over a half mile.

#8 Papa Ken (4/1) – Asmussen’s (24.1%) second colt in this field is by First-Season sire, Yaupon (three starters, one winner). His 5YO mama is by Blame, and she was unraced, and this is her first foal. Today’s runner sold earlier this year as a two-year-old for $160K (27/60). Four Keeneland drills before three here under the Twin Spires (26 furlongs) have built the base to get him ready for his first appearance today in the afternoon, including one over 5f. He flashed some potential in only his second effort on 5/16/25 when he covered three poles in 35.2 seconds (1/9). He’s looked quite professional in the works that has been captured on video.

My Pick – is #2 The Standard. This guy was not only tops in his sales class, he was an absolute standout. Granted, the initial yearling crop of By My Standards didn’t sell well, but this dude brought nearly four times more than his nearest classmate. I don’t remember the last time that I saw that. Obviously, coming out of the Asmussen barn is a big plus, and his work tab looks impressive. Steve gives his son Eric the leg up on him, and I’m looking for a big effort from him.