Baby Talk Info & Intel: Churchill Downs – Race 3 – Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The fillies are in the spotlight in this five and half furlong spring on the dirt. Knicks Go, a First-Crop sire, has one runner, and top stallions Volatile, Into Mischief, Omaha Beach, McKinzie, Justify, and Girvin also have one starter each. Only one of these youngsters has raced previously. Let’s break down this competitive field of nine…
#3 Late Night Text (5/1) – This Into Mischief (17.2%) filly was thrown by a terrific Curlin mare that was successful in five of her six races and brought home $230K. The only race she didn’t end in the Winner’s Circle was a Grade 3, and she was the runner-up in that one. She’s only tossed one other foal of racing age, but that 3YO is yet to be named. Today’s starter sold for only $35,000 as a yearling (62/62), but then did bring $125K earlier this year as a 2YO (9/13). Nolan Ramsey conditions this gal, and he started her prep work at Gulfstream Park in mid-April with seven works before shipping her to KY for one more at Keeneland (total of 29 furlongs). In her second spin on 4/26/25, she went three panels in 35.46 seconds for a solid bullet (1/18). Luis Saez will be in the saddle.
#6 Smell the Lilies (9/2) – Steve Asmussen (56/325, 17.7%) will cinch the saddle on this filly, who was sired by Justify (16.9%). Mama, by Uncle Mo, was zero for two on the track and has produced three other foals of racing age, none with much success. $200K was Jackpot Farm’s final bid for today’s gal when she was a yearling in 2024 (40/61). Five Keenland breezes, followed by one maintenance move under the Twin Spires (total of 22 furlongs), are the lead-up to this runner’s debut. Two back, on 5/14/25, she zipped a half mile from the gate in 46.6 seconds, earning her a large bullet (1/50). Steve’s son Keith gets tapped to be her pilot.
#8 Best Friend (8/1) – This Florida-bred filly is one of two in this event that is trained by Kenny McPeek (28/195, 14.4%). Her dad is Girvin (19.9%), and her 14 YO mom is a More Than Ready Mare that won three times from 20 starts on the track for $121K in earnings. McPeek purchased today’s competitor last July as yearling for $95,000 (8/18). Eight works, dating back to mid-April, the first six and Keeneland and the last two at Churchill (31 furlongs) make up her work tab to ready her for today’s throwdown. Her fastest was on 5/24/25 when she traveled a half mile at KEE in 48 seconds flat (9/77). Brian Hernandez, Jr. will manage the reins.
#9 Hylla (4/1) – The lukewarm morning favorite is trained by Riley Mott (1/22, 4.6%). Her sire is Liam’s Map (11.2%), and her dam is by Wicked Strong. Mama scored one time in six tries, and this is her first foal. The hammer fell at $210,000 earlier this year at Ocala for this gal as a Two-Year-Old (6/19). Even though she has never raced, she’ll know her way around the Churchill oval as she’s breezed her on seven occasions (26 furlongs). Last time, on 6/5/25, she covered four panels in 47.6 seconds (4/48). Riley will give Jamie Torres the leg up.
My Pick – is #6 Smell the Lilies. She has been working like a beast…and it’s not only the sizzling work that she put in on 5/14/25. I’ve been able to watch two videos of her in the morning and the one on May 7 at KEE was a standout. Her time was only 48.4 seconds for the half mile, but she looked like she was full of run if the excerise rider would have turned her loose. The gallop out was super impressive as she just left her workmate, a $200K Two-Year-Old filly by Tapit in the dust. Papa Justify is certainly an excellent sire and Steve is the king of the babies in the spring at CD.