The Hanshin – (Grade lll)

Purse $300.00 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

One Mile – Dirt

Churchill Downs – June 28, 2026

The 19th running of The Hanshin brings together nine older horses running at the one-turn mile distance. From graded stakes winners to allowance winners, this race brings together a diverse and competitive group of runners. The Hanshin definitely has some history, having carried Grade Three status at Arlington Park from 2005 through 2019. After Arlington’s closure, the race was transferred to Churchill Downs and was first contested at HRP in 2022 as an ungraded stake. This year marks a new chapter, as the Hanshin will be run as a Grade Three event for the first time under the Twin Spires. There is a three-way tie atop the owner leaderboard for this race with Mb Stables, Australia Wide, and Angelos Stable each winning twice. The stakes record was set back in 2012 when Mshot Stables’ Baybayin drew away in the stretch by two lengths, stopping the clock in 1:33.93. With some heavy hitters and potential rising stars entered this year, separating this field won’t be easy. Let’s see how these horses stack up against each other!

1. Stumble – (Mb Stables, A. Fresu) An extremely versatile horse who has won stakes on both dirt and turf. With five wins on dirt and three of those achieved in route company, Stumble has proven that longer distances are well within his wheelhouse. Mb Stables has seemingly taken notice and continues to place him where he does his best work. This New York-bred’s last race was very impressive out at Woodbine, closing from four lengths back to score by just under a length. That effort produced a 101-speed figure and also added a graded stakes win to his résumé. The one-turn mile should be well within Stumble’s wheelhouse, so he will be a major contender.

2. Agent Zero – (Mb Stables, J R. Velazquez) The second entrant for Mb Stables trying to put him in clear first place atop the owner standings. Agent Zero has definitely been productive for a horse who was bought for only $8.01 at auction in 2024. He started running on the turf for his new connections and made the switch in surfaces only three months ago. The son of Great State put together a second-place effort in the Essex Handicap and a fourth in the Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day. His last start was a career best as the favorite in the Met Mile, producing a 102 speed figure. This gelding closed from way back and got up for second. This entry makes perfect sense. My top pick.

3. Sky Rider – (Nakamura Stables, D E. Centeno) Has been a model of consistency, never finishing off the board in eight straight races. Sky Rider has been running his best numbers around a route of ground, so the one-turn could be someone to watch. He has two wins this year, both against allowance company. This gelding took a four-horse field wire-to-wire at Parx as the favorite and did the same thing two months later at Keeneland. His last start was in the Grade Three Sexton Mile. Sky Rider didn’t make the lead that day and had to try to make his run coming from off the pace. It was an even third-place finish against a six-horse field. Other rivals look more appealing in this spot.

4. Bondarchuk – (YME Stable, M J. Sanchez) This four-year-old really hasn’t done much wrong since being gelded in May 2024. The son of Cantarguewithstupid blew through his conditions with four wins in a row, both sprinting and routing. His best effort was in an N1X at Parx, where he absolutely dominated on the front end winning by three lengths. Connections made the jump into stakes company two starts ago, running Bondarchuk in the Ghostzapper. He ended up getting second, but put up a career high 100 speed figure. The Alysheba was next for this Ontario-bred and he ended up running an even fifth as a longshot. I think the one-turn mile should suit Bondarchuk better.

5. Nimbus Two Thousand – (Bigchief Stables, T. Gaffalione) It’s hard to judge this six-year-old because of his spotty form. Nimbus Two Thousand has done most of his running in the claiming and starter allowance ranks. However, the past three starts have been in graded stakes company. The 1 1/8-mile distance proved to be too far for this California-bred after getting sixth at Santa Anita. Connections changed the rider back to Tyler Gaffalione and cut him back in distance. This proved to be the winning formula as Nimbus Two Thousand took down the Ghostzapper at Gulfstream Park. He comes out of a dismal seventh-place effort at Churchill Downs last month. Will need to show more to be competitive.

6. Griggs – (Bears Stable, E. Esquivel) Will be making his graded stakes debut after seventeen career starts. The son of Soviet Warrior is actually still eligible for the N1X allowance condition because all of his eight victories have come in claiming and starter allowance races. When Griggs wins, he usually does it in impressive fashion. Three starts back at Tampa Bay Downs, he went out to the lead and never looked back to win by a comfortable three lengths. His last race caught the eye as well in a starter allowance at Parx. Griggs sat just behind the speed and closed down the stretch like a good thing to score by two. I don’t feel like this guy is ready to take on graded company just yet.

7. Bronze Crown – (TwinTowersRacing, M. Franco) It doesn’t matter if it’s turf, dirt, long, or short, this son of No Doubt Bronze has done it all. He only has three career victories and two of them were on the grass. Connections have been running this horse in graded company throughout his career without seeing any real results. Looking at his form more closely, Bronze Crown looks to have the highest speed figures on the dirt. TwinTowersRacing looks to have found that too, after winning a state-bred allowance last time out. He was the favorite in a four-horse field and made every pole a winning one. Several rivals look better positioned to take advantage of this graded event. Pass.

8. My Tomorrows – (Maxmillion Farm, S X. Bridgmohan) Bought privately for $100.00 just last year. Maxmillion Farm certainly thought this gelding had stakes ability because he has been in six graded events since. Very few in this field have experience at the one-turn mile distance, and My Tomorrows has two in his past three starts. He ran third in the Gulfstream Park Mile and parlayed that effort with a second in the Westchester at Aqueduct. This son of Moment In Time put together the best performance of his career last time out in the Sexton Mile. He settled just one length off the pace and came with a big run to capture his first graded stakes win. This is going to be my longshot pick in here.

9. Magazine Cover – (Rock Creek, F T. Alvarado) Lightly raced with only seven career starts and two wins. This Kentucky-bred broke his maiden in the maiden claiming ranks at Belterra Park going a mile. He went back-to-back capturing an N1X in the race after at a 1/16 of a mile longer. Magazine Cover changed barns last month after Rock Creek bought him privately off of Team 7 Illusions for $24.00. He went into a starter allowance one week later and ran just an ok third in a packed ten-horse field. It seems a little early to start trying graded stakes company, considering his performance in the last race. Several rivals have already established themselves at higher levels, making them more attractive options.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES