Three Sixes pulled off a stunning upset in Saturday’s $400.000 Golden Rod Stakes (Grade II) at Churchill Downs, rallying from mid-pack to edge favored She Is Into It by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile test for two-year-old fillies under Rafael Bejarano for Pan Farms. The black filly posted a final time of 1:42.28 over a fast track, earning her second career victory and first graded stakes triumph. Making just her seventh career start, Three Sixes demonstrated exceptional determination and timing to secure the victory, providing a significant return for connections and establishing herself as a legitimate contender on the Kentucky Oaks trail heading into 2026.

Flow & Calls

As the gates opened for the Golden Rod Stakes, the field broke cleanly with Three Sixes settling into sixth position under Bejarano through the opening quarter mile in :23.1. She Is Into It, breaking from post eight, established position in seventh early, while Madame Masque occupied fifth. Acapulco Gray broke from the outside post ten and settled into tenth position. Top Nurse raced in eighth, with Rowena in first early. Fire Missle occupied ninth position as the field completed the opening quarter.

Through the half-mile marker reached in :46.4, Three Sixes had improved her position to tenth, beginning to advance gradually from her mid-pack placement. She Is Into It had moved up significantly to third, positioning herself closer to the leaders. Madame Masque raced in second, tracking the early pace, while Acapulco Gray continued from eleventh. Fire Missle advanced to ninth, while Top Nurse raced in eighth. Rowena had moved to fourth, while Do Not Disturb occupied second position at this stage.

As the field reached the six-furlong marker in 1:11.1, the race began to take its final shape. Three Sixes had continued her steady advance, moving up to eighth position as Bejarano began to ask for more effort. She Is Into It had established a threatening fourth position, poised to strike as the field turned for home. Madame Masque raced in eighth, while Acapulco Gray had improved to eleventh. Fire Missle continued from ninth position. Top Nurse had moved up to seventh, while Rowena occupied third. Cherokee Rubicon raced in second at this critical juncture.

In the final furlong, Three Sixes unleashed a powerful rally, sweeping past rivals to take command in the final strides. She Is Into It mounted a determined challenge, closing strongly to secure second position but coming up just short at the wire. Madame Masque continued her forward momentum to claim third, while Acapulco Gray rallied impressively from the back of the pack to finish fourth. Fire Missle held on for fifth, followed by Do Not Disturb in sixth. Top Nurse finished seventh after racing prominently throughout, with Rowena eighth. Cherokee Rubicon faded to ninth after showing speed earlier, while Dukes Of Hazard completed the field in tenth. The winner crossed the finish line a neck in front of the runner-up.

Each Runner Mentioned

Three Sixes settled in sixth through the opening quarter, dropped back to tenth at the half-mile marker, advanced to eighth at the six-furlong call, and unleashed a powerful rally in the stretch to win by a neck in a final time of 1:42.28 for her second career victory.

She Is Into It raced in seventh through the opening quarter, improved to third at the half-mile marker, moved into fourth at the six-furlong call, and finished strongly to claim second, beaten a neck after mounting a determined challenge.

Madame Masque occupied fifth position through the opening quarter, advanced to second at the half-mile marker, raced in eighth at the six-furlong call, and rallied well to finish third, beaten a nose for second.

Acapulco Gray broke from the outside and settled into tenth early, continued from eleventh at the half-mile marker, remained in eleventh at the six-furlong call, but closed with excellent determination to finish fourth in her graded stakes debut.

Fire Missle raced in ninth through the opening quarter, maintained ninth at the half-mile marker, continued from ninth at the six-furlong call, and held on gamely to finish fifth in her first attempt at two turns.

Do Not Disturb raced in second position through the half-mile marker, continued from second at various stages, but flattened out in the stretch to finish sixth after showing early speed.

Top Nurse occupied eighth position through the opening quarter, maintained eighth at the half-mile marker, moved up to seventh at the six-furlong call, but failed to sustain her bid and finished seventh in her first attempt at 1 1/16 miles.

Rowena showed early speed in first, moved to fourth at the half-mile marker, raced in third at the six-furlong call, but faded in the stretch to finish eighth, struggling with the surface switch from turf to dirt.

Cherokee Rubicon pressed the pace in second at the six-furlong call after showing speed earlier but retreated significantly in the final furlong to finish ninth, unable to handle the distance.

Dukes Of Hazard raced in fourth through the opening quarter, dropped to fifteenth at the half-mile marker, fell back to ninth at the six-furlong call, and finished a distant tenth, clearly outclassed by this Grade II field.

Winner’s Profile & What’s Next

Three Sixes, a black filly by Cherokee Thriller out of Three Sixty Five, was bred and is owned by Pan Farms in California. The victory pushes her lifetime earnings to $328.510 with two wins from seven career starts. Having proven her effectiveness at 1 1/16 miles with this Grade II triumph, Three Sixes has established herself as a legitimate contender for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks trail. Connections could target additional prep races such as the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks or other Kentucky Oaks qualifying events as they build toward the first Friday in May. Her ability to close powerfully from off the pace and handle the classic distance makes her an intriguing prospect as the three-year-old filly division begins to take shape.

Track: Fast
Time: :23¹  :46⁴  1:11¹  1:42¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 8 Paid 29.10
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 8 – 5 Paid 711.40

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES