Meet the Contenders: Kentucky Jockey Club

Risk It (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Meet the horses running in the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.

Awesome Road (Photo by Coady Photography)

#1 Awesome Road ****

Pro: Earned nice fig winning debut and likely better than Breeders’ Futurity
(G1) showed.
Con: Unlikely to offer much value for high-percentage barn.

Honor Marie at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

#2 Honor Marie ***

Pro: Has run well both starts and seemingly crying for more distance.
Con: Graduated in restricted maiden ranks and will need to quicken.

#9 Honor Marie gets up just in time to break his maiden in the finale at Churchill Downs for trainer Whit Beckman with Rafael Bejarano in the irons! 🌟

The 2-year-old colt went off at 13/1!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/KW6vv9LwjH
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 29, 2023

Real Men Violin breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

#3 Real Men Violin **

Pro: Consistently a contender, albeit against maidens so far.
Con: Needed five starts to graduate, faces winners for first time here.

Dancing Groom (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

#4 Dancing Groom ***

Pro: Beat likely champion Fierceness to the wire when a distant third in
Champagne (G1).
Con: Lacks much in the way of positional speed so needs solid pace.

Finnick the Fierce (outside) finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). (Photo by Coady Photography)

#5 Nomos **

Pro: Barn has won this twice, including with eventual Kentucky Derby (G1)
winner Super Saver.
Con: Not a major factor in two prior stakes attempts; connections have
avoided dirt until now.

Stretch Ride at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography)

#6 Stretch Ride ****

Pro: Lone two-time winner in the field looked good scoring in Keeneland
allowance.
Con: Paid nicely last two but price plummets as he takes on tougher.

Risk It (Photo by Adam Coglianese)

#7 Risk It ***

Pro: Popular colt remains with upside and should be prominent from the start.
Con: Didn’t quite live up to hype in Iroquois (G3) despite ideal stalking trip.

#1 Risk It was sharp in the opener at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen with @Tyler_Gaff aboard! 💪

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/gR7bXqmwvL
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 19, 2023