Churchill Downs Race 8

Allowance Optional Claiming

Stake: -

VERIFIRE (2) First up and controlled the speed to win by a margin of just short of 7L first up last preparation at Pimlico. Irad Ortiz Jr adds value. One of the better chances. FLOODLITES (3) Dictated terms in front to win by a margin of 4L last run at Keeneland and will be well suited at the trip. Should jump out and bowl along. Has genuine claims in this race. FURIO (5) Applied plenty of pressure when 3rd beaten by close to 10L last start at this track and suited at this trip historically. Has early speed and positions nicely. Could go well. HARRODSBURG (6) First up and felt the pinch late when 3rd beaten by 2L first up last preparation at this track. Should muster plenty of early toe. Not hopeless.

Distance: 1207m
Track:
Weather: -
Surface: Dirt
Class: 3U, ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING, AOC, TB

Thoughtthatcounts (1) 3123123562
Trainer: David Jacobson()
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 23% / 61%

5 yo Chestnut Gelding

Sire: Sky Mesa

Dam: Sweet Starlet

Dam's Sire: Five Star Day

Stats

Career

21: 5-5-3

Distance

9: 3-3-1

Trk/Dst

1: 1-0-0

Track

4: 2-0-1

1st Up

3: 1-0-1

2nd Up

2: 1-0-0

3rd Up

2: 1-1-0

4th Up

2: 0-0-1

Turf

3: 0-0-1

Good

1: 0-1-0

Dirt

18: 5-5-2

Firm

20: 5-4-3

Jockey Stats

Horse

1: 1-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m - 1609m

Comments

Ran on when 2nd beaten by 3/4L last start at Keeneland and can save some energy from the draw. Competing in a higher grade. This field likely to be too good.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 10	4/4/26	Keeneland	1408m	Allowance Op	9	Walter A Rodriguez	53.5kg	FT		-	0.8L	8-7	$0.00	-	$0	-	1. U Devil You 2. Thoughtthatcounts 3. Praetor
6th of 10	1/3/26	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Ratings Hand	5	Flavien Prat	56kg	FT		-	8.5L	10-9	$6.00	-	$0	-	1. Carbone 2. El Prestigio 3. Run Classic
5th of 5	5/2/26	Oaklawn Park	1609m	Stakes 104	1	Cristian A Torres	55.5kg	FT		-	10.4L	5-5-5	$5.00	-	$0	-	1. Will Take It 2. Woodcourt 3. American Law
3rd of 9	3/1/26	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Stakes 109	1	Cristian A Torres	56kg	FT		-	3L	9-9	$6.00	-	$0	-	1. Bourbon Bash 2. Banjo Chris 3. Thoughtthatcounts
2nd of 9	19/12/25	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Allowance Op	8	Jr Ricardo Santana	56kg	FT		-	3.5L	8-7	$2.30	-	$0	-	1. Minnesota Ready 2. Thoughtthatcounts 3. Devil's Tower
1st of 8	23/11/25	Churchill Downs	1609m	Allowance Op	6	Tyler Gaffalione	55kg	FT		-	2.5L	6-5-1	$5.00	-	$0	-	1. Thoughtthatcounts 2. Money Supply 3. Solo Venturi

Verifire (2) 1118X
Trainer: Brad H. Cox()
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 75% / 75%

Unbeaten the Distance

4 yo Chestnut Colt

Sire: Authentic

Dam: Ruby Trust

Dam's Sire: Smart Strike

Stats

Career

4: 3-0-0

Distance

2: 2-0-0

Track

1: 1-0-0

1st Up

1: 1-0-0

2nd Up

1: 1-0-0

3rd Up

1: 1-0-0

4th Up

1: 0-0-0

Good

1: 1-0-0

Dirt

4: 3-0-0

Firm

3: 2-0-0

Jockey Stats

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Comments

First up and set the tempo to win by almost 7L first up last preparation at Pimlico. Gains the services of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Winning chance.

Expected Settling Position:

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
8th of 8	23/8/25	Saratoga	1408m	Stakes 109	5	Flavien Prat	56kg	FT		-	48.1L	7-7	$5.00	-	$0	-	1. Patch Adams 2. Captain Cook 3. Barnes
1st of 11	29/6/25	Churchill Downs	1408m	Stakes 101	9	Flavien Prat	53.5kg	FT		-	2.8L	3-3	$4.50	-	$0	-	1. Verifire 2. Smoken Wicked 3. Captain Cook
1st of 6	16/5/25	Pimlico	1207m	03	6	Flavien Prat	55kg	FAST		-	6.5L	1-1	$1.22	-	$0	-	1. Verifire 2. Saxton 3. Straight To Water
1st of 8	15/3/25	Colonial Downs	1207m	MDN Special	4	Flavien Prat	55.5kg	FT		-	6.3L	4-1	$3.50	-	$0	-	1. Verifire 2. Hitchcock 3. Suremeanttoobe

Floodlites (3) 362X4011X1
Trainer: Wesley A. Ward()
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 40% / 60%

Distance Specialist

Picket Fence

4 yo BBR Gelding

Sire: City Of Light

Dam: More Mo For Me

Dam's Sire: Uncle Mo

Stats

Career

10: 4-1-1

Distance

6: 4-1-0

1st Up

3: 1-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-0-0

Turf

5: 1-0-1

Dirt

5: 3-1-0

Firm

10: 4-1-1

Jockey Stats

Horse

1: 1-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m

Comments

Set the pace when winning by 4L last run at Keeneland and proven performer at this trip in the past. Likely to be well placed early. Major chance.

Expected Settling Position:

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 5	18/4/26	Keeneland	1207m	Allowance Op	1	John R Velazquez	53.5kg	FT		-	4L	1-1	$0.00	-	$0	-	1. Floodlites 2. Whatchatalkinabout 3. Kalahari Dreams
1st of 7	13/12/25	Aqueduct	1207m	Allowance 96	1	Jaime Rodriguez	53.5kg	FT		-	1.8L	1-1	$3.30	-	$0	-	1. Floodlites 2. My Mitole 3. Trust Fund
1st of 9	16/10/25	Keeneland	1207m	Claiming 98	4	Lanfranco Dettori	53.5kg	FT		-	3.3L	4-2	$6.00	-	$0	-	1. Floodlites 2. Perfect Magic 3. Evan On Earth
12th of 12	30/8/25	Kentucky Downs	1207m	Allowance 98	2	Junior Alvarado	53.5kg	FM		-	9.4L	4-4	$4.60	-	$0	-	1. Operation Sunrise 2. Stiglets 3. Flat To Da Mat
4th of 11	13/7/25	Ellis Park	1106m	Allowance 99	1	Walter A Rodriguez	53.5kg	FM		-	5.5L	3-4	$2.70	-	$0	-	1. Litigation 2. Innovator 3. Vesture
2nd of 11	18/12/24	Turfway Park	1207m	Allowance Op	3	Gerardo Corrales	55.5kg	FT		-	5.5L	3-4	$1.55	-	$0	-	1. Coming In Hot 2. Floodlites 3. Shan

Tough Catch (4) 2210X42126
Trainer: Dallas Stewart()
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 27% / 63%

4 yo Grey Colt

Sire: Complexity

Dam: Try To Catch Her

Dam's Sire: Broken Vow

Stats

Career

11: 3-4-0

Distance

7: 2-3-0

Track

1: 0-1-0

1st Up

2: 1-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-1-0

Good

1: 0-0-0

Heavy

1: 1-0-0

Synthetic

1: 0-0-0

Dirt

11: 3-4-0

Firm

8: 2-4-0

Jockey Stats

Horse

1: 0-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m

Comments

Started at $14.00 and couldn't stay in touch when 6th last start at Oaklawn Park but going down in class. Has plenty of early speed. Significant improvement required.

Expected Settling Position:

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
6th of 7	11/4/26	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Stakes 116	1	Jose L Ortiz	53kg	FT		-	6L	3-5	$0.00	-	$0	-	1. Mad House 2. Roll On Big Joe 3. Dreaminblue
2nd of 6	14/3/26	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Stakes 113	3	Ramon A Vazquez	56kg	FT		-	2L	3-2	$6.00	-	$0	-	1. Tejano Twist 2. Tough Catch 3. Gold Sweep
1st of 8	15/2/26	Oaklawn Park	1207m	Allowance 10	4	Luis Saez	54kg	MY		-	2.5L	1-1	$3.90	-	$0	-	1. Tough Catch 2. Go Captain 3. Hailstorm
2nd of 9	24/11/25	Mahoning Valley	1207m	Stakes 100	6	Luis Saez	53kg	FT		-	1.8L	5-3	$10	-	$0	-	1. Faster Gator 2. Tough Catch 3. Souper Tuscan
4th of 7	22/10/25	Keeneland	1207m	3U	5	Luis Saez	53.5kg	FAST		-	1L	4-4	$4.33	-	$0	-	1. Beeline 2. Keep It Easy 3. Distorted Pro
13th of 13	18/1/25	Fair Grounds	1710m	Stakes 100	7	Luis Saez	55.5kg	SY		-	23.9L	3-3-3	$20	-	$0	-	1. Disco Time 2. Built 3. Innovator

Furio (5) 129419X913
Trainer: Joe Sharp()
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 30% / 60%

Distance Specialist

4 yo Bay Colt

Sire: Mckinzie

Dam: Take Charge Angel

Dam's Sire: Will Take Charge

Stats

Career

10: 3-1-2

Distance

5: 3-0-1

Trk/Dst

2: 1-0-1

Track

5: 1-0-2

1st Up

3: 1-0-1

2nd Up

2: 1-1-0

3rd Up

2: 0-0-1

Good

1: 1-0-0

Synthetic

1: 0-0-0

Dirt

10: 3-1-2

Firm

8: 2-1-2

Jockey Stats

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m - 1509m

Comments

Was found wanting late when 3rd beaten by almost 10L last start at this venue and proven runner at this distance. Should come to hand quickly. Will go close.

Expected Settling Position: Backmarker

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 8	28/4/26	Churchill Downs	1509m	Allowance Op	4	Jose L Ortiz	56kg	FT		-	9.8L	2-2	$0.00	-	$0	-	1. U Devil You 2. Owen Almighty 3. Furio
1st of 6	15/3/26	Fair Grounds	1207m	Allowance Op	4	Jose L Ortiz	54.5kg	FT		-	2.8L	1-1	$2.70	-	$0	-	1. Furio 2. Honky Tonk Highway 3. Fully Volatile
9th of 10	14/2/26	Fair Grounds	1207m	Allowance Op	10	Luis Saez	54.5kg	FT		-	10.7L	3-3	$5.50	-	$0	-	1. Maximum Bourbon 2. Attache 3. Banned For Life
9th of 11	29/6/25	Churchill Downs	1408m	Stakes 101	11	Jaime A Torres	53.5kg	FT		-	17.5L	9-10	$11	-	$0	-	1. Verifire 2. Smoken Wicked 3. Captain Cook
1st of 11	25/5/25	Churchill Downs	1207m	03	7	Jose Lezcano	53.5kg	FAST		-	0.05L	5-3	$2.75	-	$0	-	1. Furio 2. Amor Patriae 3. U Devil You
4th of 10	3/5/25	Churchill Downs	1308m	Allowance Op	2	Jose Lezcano	53.5kg	SY		-	7L	1-1	$11	-	$0	-	1. Patch Adams 2. Big Truzz 3. Multiverse

Harrodsburg (6) X412X3437X
Trainer: Michael A. Tomlinson()
Jockey: Luis Saez
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $0
Win / Place: 35% / 70%

6 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: Constitution

Dam: Gracer

Dam's Sire: Exchange Rate

Stats

Career

17: 6-3-3

Distance

5: 2-1-1

Trk/Dst

4: 2-1-1

Track

10: 4-2-2

1st Up

4: 2-0-1

2nd Up

3: 2-0-0

3rd Up

3: 1-1-1

4th Up

1: 0-0-0

Good

2: 2-0-0

Synthetic

2: 1-1-0

Dirt

17: 6-3-3

Firm

13: 3-2-3

Jockey Stats

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1408m

Comments

First up and showed strength on the speed initially before fading at the end 3rd beaten by 2L first up last preparation at this track. Displays good tactical speed. Difficult to warm to at present.

Expected Settling Position: Backmarker

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
7th of 11	30/11/25	Churchill Downs	1408m	Allowance Op	5	Jaime A Torres	54.5kg	FT		-	7.1L	3-4	$11	-	$0	-	1. Tour Player 2. Billal 3. Tap Into This
3rd of 7	6/11/25	Churchill Downs	1207m	Allowance Op	1	Jaime A Torres	54.5kg	FT		-	3.1L	1-1	$2.00	-	$0	-	1. Lofty Adjudicator 2. Spankster 3. Harrodsburg
4th of 6	12/10/25	Keeneland	1207m	Allowance Op	3	Jaime A Torres	55kg	FT		-	6.5L	1-1	$1.60	-	$0	-	1. Track Mate 2. Implementation 3. Lofty Adjudicator
3rd of 7	12/9/25	Churchill Downs	1308m	Allowance Op	6	Jaime A Torres	55kg	FT		-	2L	2-2	$2.75	-	$0	-	1. Cat On Time 2. Champlin 3. Harrodsburg
2nd of 6	13/6/25	Churchill Downs	1207m	Allowance Op	1	Jose Lezcano	56kg	SY		-	0.1L	1-1	$7.00	-	$0	-	1. Nash 2. Harrodsburg 3. Discreet Mischief
1st of 9	23/5/25	Churchill Downs	1207m	3U	1	Jaime A Torres	55kg	FAST		-	0.1L	2-1	$11	-	$0	-	1. Harrodsburg 2. Cat On Time 3. Deer District

Race Review Abbreviations

3WNC: Three wide no cover, Awk: Awkwardly away, Bk: Back, Blkd: Blocked, Btld: Battled, Chal: Challenged, Chkd: Checked, Cvr: Cover, Fdd: Faded, Fght: Fought, Fin: Finish, Hdd: Headed, Hld up: Held up, Hmprd: Hampered, Hndy: Handy, Kikd: Kicked, Kn: Keen, Ld: Led/Lead, Midf: Midfield, Mod pc: Moderate pace, Otf: On the Fence, ROS: Ran on strongly, Slow: Slow away, Snagd: Snagged, Stld: Settled, Tn: Turn, Trld: Trailed, Under pres: Under pressure, Under rd: Under riding, Urgd: Urged, Wd: Wide, Wdr: Wider, Weavd: Weaved, Wknd: Weakened, Wrkd: Worked