Speedball Skelly aims to assert his authority again as the likely favorite in this Saturday’s $275,000 Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The six-furlong dirt sprint has drawn a competitive field of seven older horses, but Skelly, boasting a colossal 110 Beyer Speed Figure in his last outing, will be the one they all have to catch.
However, the Steve Asmussen trainee won’t have it all his way, with formidable challengers like World Record, a Grade 2 winner fresh off a sharp Churchill Downs victory, and the classy Giant Mischief, who seeks to rebound to his Grade 1-placed form, lining up to take their shot in what promises to be a thrilling renewal of the historic Aristides.
The Field
Here’s a look at the contenders for the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes:
1. Champlin (6/1). Owned by Murray House and Sherilynn House, this five-year-old gelding by Ransom the Moon has a strong Churchill Downs record, with four wins from eight starts over the track. He recently finished second in the St. Matthews Stakes here on May 1st, earning a solid 93 Beyer.
Trained by Gregory Foley, Champlin consistently performs well and boasts a lifetime best Beyer of 96. While he’s stepping up to Graded Stakes company, his affinity for the track (4-2-2-0) and good current form make him a contender for a share.
2. Durante (15/1). A seasoned six-year-old gelding, Durante brings a wealth of experience with 37 career starts and earnings over $653,000. He was third in a high-level optional claimer at Churchill Downs on May 16th and won a similar event at Oaklawn Park in February.
While recent best Beyers hover in the low 90s, he has shown flashes of higher ability. He’ll need to find his best to overcome the top contenders here, but his price could be appealing for exotic wagers.
3. Giant Mischief (4/1). This son of Into Mischief, trained by Brad Cox, showed immense promise earlier in his career, and has a recent second-place finish in the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes with a 101 Beyer and a third in the Grade 1 Malibu.
His most recent start was a disappointing sixth in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on a sloppy track. If he can forgive that last effort and return to his peak form on a fast track, the Stonestreet Stables color-bearer is a major threat with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons.
4. Happy Is a Choice (6/1). This five-year-old by Runhappy has earned over $715,000 and boasts a powerful 104 Beyer from his victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes here last September, where he defeated Skelly.
He was recently third in the St. Matthews Stakes behind Champlin. Trained by John Ortiz, he has a strong record at Churchill Downs (4-2-0-1). If he can recapture his top form, he’s a serious win candidate at a fair price.
5. Here Mi Song (15/1). A seven-year-old millionaire by Cross Traffic, Here Mi Song has been a warrior throughout his 30-race career. He’s a proven performer at Churchill Downs, with a win and multiple stakes placings, and has a career-best Beyer of 101.
However, his 2025 campaign has started slowly, with two off-the-board finishes in graded stakes. He needs a significant form reversal to contend, but his back class at this track makes him a potential surprise.
6. Skelly (7/5). The morning-line favorite, Skelly, comes into the Aristides off a blistering 110 Beyer performance in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park. This Practical Joke gelding has won 12 of 21 starts and earned nearly $2 million.
Known for his blazing early speed, he has an exceptional record at six furlongs (12 wins from 20 starts). While he was beaten by Happy Is a Choice at Churchill Downs last fall, his current form is scintillating, making him the horse to beat.
7. World Record (3/1). Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, this four-year-old son of Gun Runner is relatively lightly raced with eight starts but has already bagged a Grade 2 victory in the Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga last July.
He enters this race off a sharp win in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on May 1st, earning a 100 Beyer. With Flavien Prat aboard, this colt has significant upside and appears poised for a big effort against top sprinters.
Win, Place, Show, Wildcard, and Longshot
Win: (6) Skelly (7/5) – His recent 110 Beyer Speed Figure dominates this field. If he breaks well and dictates terms, his raw speed will be incredibly tough to overcome at his preferred distance.
Place: (7) World Record (3/1) – This colt is on the ascent, as shown by his recent 100 Beyer win at this track. He has the tactical speed to stay in touch with Skelly and could be the strongest challenger in the stretch.
Show: (3) Giant Mischief (4/1) – Throw out his last race on a sloppy track, and his prior form, including a 101 Beyer and a Grade 3 placing, puts him in the mix. Top connections add to the appeal.
Wildcard: (4) Happy Is a Choice (6/1) – He defeated Skelly here last fall with a massive 104 Beyer. He could upset the favorites if he can find anything close to that performance. His love for Churchill Downs is a big plus.
Longshot: (5) Here Mi Song (15/1) – While his recent 2025 efforts have been subpar, he’s an earner of over $1 million with a history of strong performances and a 101 Beyer at Churchill Downs. Returning to his old form at a big price could see him hit the board.
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