Churchill Downs Picks | Bashford Manor Stakes 2024

Wathnan Racing’s impressive 2-year-old colt Spiralizer will attempt to give his Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his record-extending eighth victory in the $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed) when he takes on 12 rivals entered in Sunday’s 123rd running of the six-furlong dash at Churchill Downs.

Carded as Race 9 of 11, the Bashford Manor field will go to post at 4:55 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

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Spiralizer, a son of Twirling Candy, debuted just two weeks ago at Churchill Downs when he cruised to a two-length victory over five rivals as the heavy 8-5 favorite. The Florida-bred will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione in the Bashford Manor from the rail.

For Asmussen, his success in the Bashford Manor began in 2004 when Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Lunarpal won the race under jockey Shane Sellers. Since then, Asmussen scored victories with Kodiak Kowboy (2007), Kantharos (2010), Cinco Charlie (2014), Sir Truebadour (2018), Cazadero (2020) and Gulfport (2022).

Like Spiralizer, this year’s Bashford Manor field also includes local maiden special weight winners Conquering Cat, Enduring Spirit, Politicallycorrect and Vinegar Hill.

One of the horses entered in the Bashford Manor scheduled to ship from outside the Commonwealth is Griffin Stables, Terry Lovingier and Paul Sabesky’s California-bred Bodacious.

Trained by Jorge Periban, who won the 2019 Bashford Manor with Phantom Boss, Bodacious dominated six rivals by 5 ¾ lengths on debut at Santa Anita. The son of Smokem will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 5.

Here is the complete field for the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Spiralizer (Gaffalione, Asmussen)
2. Ivan the Great (Antonio Fresu, Doug O’Neill)
3. Vinegar Hill (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis)
4. Moneyline (Frankie Dettori, Caio Caramori)
5. Bodacious (Rosario, Periban)
6. Politicallycorrect (Jose Ortiz, Chris Davis)
7. Enduring Spirit (Rey Gutierrez, Rafael Ramos)
8. Conquering Cat (Luis Saez, Chris Davis)
9. War Tax (Jose Gomez, Carlos Martin)
10. Heat (Irad Ortiz Jr., Mark Casse)
11. Happyflyer (Francisco Arrieta, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
12. Mo Hair Sam (Cristian Torres, John Hancock)
13. Smoken Wicked (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart)