River City Handicap Grade 3 $300.000
-Churchill Downs Louisville, KY

Good Memories took to the turf in fine style and won his debut on the sod in the Grade 3 River City Handicap Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs to give Mb Stables their first win in the event. Good Memories is a four-year-old colt who now pushes his earnings to just over $3,300.000 in victory number 6 from 17 lifetime starts. Congrats to the connections. Suspect The Worse from Nakamura Stables cut out all the fractions and just missed as the bet down public choice. Jerry West from La Canada Racehorses got a terrific ride as jockey RM Hernandez sensed the slow early fractions to move into a closer than normal position. This proved the best choice as “West” was able to hold off all closers and finish third.

Of the rest:

Vision Harbor from Riggins Racing ran a much better than looked effort as he sat back near the tail of the field and put on the best closing performance of the cast today. Tab him in his next start, especially if he drops back to the allowance level.

Sick Boi from Royalty Stables got heavily bet late and also tried to come from behind. He made a decent move but not enough to impact the top contingent today.

Diventare from Invicta Group Llc is another who tried to close and just didn’t have the punch needed this afternoon.

Americas Hope from Nakamura Stables got into a good tracking position but then dropped out of it around the far turn and into the stretch to run seventh.

Well Done from Team 7 Illusions toiled at the back throughout and only passed one foe coming to the wire.

Tower Isle from Winning Link Stables was the winner of this race last year but was unable to beat a single horse home today. The past champ sat midpack but then faded after the half mile pole. He is six years old and only has fifteen starts, so a possible layoff is coming. Tab for the first quarter next year.

-Trackman

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded