Baby Talk Info & Intel: Churchill Downs – Race 2 – Friday, May 30, 2025
A somewhat slender field of seven quality fillies has been entered in this five furlong affair on the dirt. Knicks Go and Charlatan, both First-Crop sires, each have one runner set to go. Let’s look at the four runners that interest me the most…
#1 Red Drapes (8/1) – This filly is the first of two that Rusty Arnold (4/11, 36.4%) will saddle, and she’s by Practical Joke. Mama was two for 27 with $64,000 in earnings; this is her first foal. This gal hammered for $100K in 2022 as a weanling (9/17), then was pinhooked back as a yearling for $150K (34/94). She’s worked six times (21 total furlongs), all at Keeneland, and her last two have both been half mile works from the gate completed in 48 seconds flat (3/97 & 9/54). Martin Garcia will be her pilot.
#4 She’s on a Roll (2/1) – The Morning Line favorite comes from the Wesley Ward barn (15.4%), and her sire is Charlatan. Her dam won north of half a million dollars going seven for 34, including a score at the Grade 3 level. She’s tossed two other foals of racing age. Today’s runner sold as a weanling for $280K (5/19) before being wheeled back last year as a yearling for $250K (37/106). Five Keeneland drills have been her prep for her first start. On 4/29/25, she earned a bullet zipping three panels in 35.2 seconds (1/42). The reins will be managed by Gerardo Corrales.
#6 Love a Little Mo (3/1) – Uncle Mo is the proud papa behind this filly, whose mare, by Frosted, won three of the ten races that she competed in and banked $168K. She won at first asking as a juvenile at Ellis Park, and this is her first foal. $675K was the price tag for today’s gal last year as a yearling. After a spin in late March at Palm Meadows Training Center, trainer Brian Lynch (3/13, 23.1%) shipped her here to Churchill for a half dozen morning breezes (for a grand total of 27 furlongs). Two back, on 5/16/25, she worked an unhurried 5/8th of a mile with company (with a filly that debuted in a MCL) in 59.8 seconds (6/24). Luis Saez will be in charge.
#7 Essential Coffee (7/2) – Steve Asmussen (24.1%) will sling the saddle across the back of this Nyquist filly. Her dam is by Malibu Moon and earned over $200K by way of two scores in 13 tries and also finished runner-up in a pair of G3 events. She’s tossed six foals, and one of them was a standout. Skinner won twice in 15 races, brought home $416K, and was successful in a Grade 3 affair. Today’s competitor will make her first start today, and she’s a homebred from J. Kirk & Judy Robison. Steve started her training schedule in the middle of April with three spins around the Keeneland oval totaling ten furlongs before shipping her east on I-64 to Churchill Downs for three works of a half mile each. Her first on the grounds here at CD was probably her best, looking very good going 48 seconds flat from the gate (9/60) vs a 2YO Basin colt. Her gallop out was also strong. Keith will get the leg up from his dad.
My Pick – I’m a sucker for Nyquist babies and Asmussen is always tough with the juveys in the spring at Churchill, so my pick is #7 Essential Coffee. Skinner ain’t a bad half-brother to have, and her works have been solid.