Baby Talk Info & Intel: Churchill Downs – Race 4 – Wednesday, June 25, 2025

A bulging field of thirteen fillies has been entered to do battle, including one that has to wait on the Also Eligible list. Two by both Tiz the Law and Complexity are set to run along with gals from Runhappy, Gun Runner, Practical Joke, Nyquist, and Munnings. Only one competitor has been out in the afternoon, and she’s done it twice. This is another fine field that offers first-class babies, so let’s dig right in…

#1 Tiz in Sight (9/2) – G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Victoria Oliver bred this filly by Tiz the Law (17/97, 17.5%) and a broodmare by Pioneerof the Nile. This is her mom’s first foal, but she scored at first asking in her second race at two here at Churchill. She never won again in eleven total starts and brought home $84,000. Gary Barber and Peter Deutsch picked today’s competitor up at the Keeneland September Yearling sales last year for $85,000 (37/105). She’s breezed a half dozen times, with the first three coming in Lexington at KEE and her most recent three happening at CD (23 furlongs). On 6/11/25, she outworked her stablemate El Barrio, who is entered on Friday, over four furlongs, and she covered it in 48 seconds flat (9/65). Jose will slip his boots into the stirrups for trainer Mark Casse (5/46, 10.9%).

#3 Ames (6/1) – This filly, by Runhappy (11.8%), has a dam who’s thrown five 2YO MSW winners from the nine other foals of racing age that she’s produced. One you’ll likely remember is Tip Top Thomas, who was second in the G1 Champagne Stakes last October as a juvey. Another has won half a million dollars, and another scored first time out at Delmar as a baby and also ran third in a G2 and a G3. Mom also visited the Winner’s Circle as a juvenile, winning in her second start at Arlington Park, but failed to win any of her next six starts and only banked $28,000. Today’s gal is a homebred. Conditioner Kenny McPeek (2/32, 6.3%) has prepped her for her debut with seven works at Keeneland and one here under the Twin Spires (29 furlongs). On 5/29/25, she traveled a half mile from the gate in 49.6 (2/94). Brian Hernandez, Jr. will manage the leather.

#4 Wakuda (7/2) – The tepid Morning Line favorite comes out of the Steve Asmussen barn (24.1%). She is a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred who hails from Gun Runner (19.2%). Her mom is a young dam by American Pharoah who won three times in eight starts and earned $79,000. She scored at first asking as a juvenile at Remington Park, and today’s runner is her first foal. Today’s runner has been out on two afternoon occasions, both here at Churchill. In her first start, on 4/30/25, she chased one of Larry Rivelli’s rockets, finishing second, over five lengths shy of the winner. She was moved to the grass on 5/22/25 for her second start and disappointed as the even money favorite, coming in fifth. Steve then shipped her to northern KY for three breezes at Turfway Park. Son Keith will get the leg up for the first time on this gal.

#5 Joke Maker (10/1) – Practical Joke (15.7%) is the papa to this filly. Her mama, winless in four afternoon tries, is by Pioneerof The Nile and has thrown three other foals of racing age. Two of the three won MSW races as juveys, and one of those banked $235K in his career. Today’s runner didn’t bring her reserve of $90,000 last year as a yearling. Rudy Brisset, who had a recent winner at this level here at CD, has been training her up to her debut with seven breezes at KEE (24 furlongs). On 5/25/25 she went three panels in 35.2 seconds (2/52), and on 6/8/25 she buzzed a half mile in 47.4 seconds (3/36).

#11 Where Luck Lives (4/1) – Brian Lynch (3/13, 23.1%) trains this Nyquist (18.4%) filly who comes from a Harlan’s Holiday dam that was five of 19 on the track, including a win in her fourth try as a baby at Ellis Park and also a third place finish in a G1 event. She finished her career with north of $400K in the bank. She’s also the mom of seven other foals of racing age, highlighted by the fantastic racemare Vahva, who is now seven for 17 after scoring at Churchill in the G2 Chicago Stakes. She was also a winner in her third start as a 2YO and has earned nearly $2 million. Flying Dutchmen plunked down $725K for today’s entrant last year as a yearling (5/71). She knows this Churchill oval as she’s been out on it on six morning occasions (24 furlongs), including a 5/8^th mile move last out. Her times have not been fast, but in viewing the two videos available, she seems to do it fairly easily and has galloped out nicely.

My Pick – I’m a sucker for Nyquist and I’m a big fan of Vahva, so it’s hard not to select her half-sister, #11 Where Luck Lives because I think she’s gonna be a dandy. My pick is #4 Wakuda. She’s been out twice, which gives her a significant head start in her development. I will blame her lackluster performance in her last start on the grass. Keith gets the leg up for his dad, and hopefully he can get the job done.