CC Emerald
$175.000 1 1/16 Miles Turf
Three Year Olds And Upward. 
Have Started for Claiming Price of $25.000 or Less Since 1/1/24
Churchill Downs November 15, 2025

Athabasca is the kind of horse who the CC series was ideally designed for. He has basically been a lifelong claiming horse who has developed and found form and this restricted stake gives him and his owner an opportunity to continue that rise with some protection from blue blood stakes types. At one point in his career Athabasca was available for as little as $3.500 in a maiden claiming race. He found his form and started his rise at exactly the right time to encourage his trainer to take a chance here and it paid off.

Winner: Athabasca (Czech Out Farms/I. Castillo) Timber Rattler/Twelve Gauge (Unburdened) Broke well and settled into a nice stalking position. Started to move around the final turn and got the jump on the second-place finisher who had been stalking to his inside the whole race. Made the lead and held off late charging Brand Recognition for the stakes win. Perfect trip and took advantage to continue his class climb and his rags to riches ascent.

Second: Brand Recognition (Mb Stables/J.L. Ortiz) Just Missed/Powerfulattraction (Always Dreaming) Had the same perfect stalking trip as the winner but was not as fortunate in finding a path when he wanted to make his move. The winner got the jump on him and although he made final frantic charge he could not get there in time. 

Third: Grand Zion (La Canada Racehorses/L.R. Rivera) Zionist/Grand Spotter (Grand Prix) He sat further back than the top two and he also had a little bit of trouble finding a lane to make his run. Shuffled out to find room but finally found some free running along the rail and might have been closing best of all at the end. 
Fourth: Mr Wendal (Asgar/F. Geroux) In A Major Way/Regal Queen (Kinslayer) Rider was content to sit far back early. Began advancing but had to go very wide and lost ground. Briefly reached third but was nipped at the wire for the show when Grand Zion was able to break free in the final furlong.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded