King’s Ovation and Shadow Matter, back at their home track after a summer away when the Churchill Downs barn area was closed, will see how friendly the confines are Saturday when they tackle a pair of new stakes worth $275,000 apiece for 3-year-old males.
King’s Ovation, the runner-up in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes earlier this year, will stretch out in trip to 9 1/2 furlongs in the Bourbon Trail Stakes. He most recently was second going a mile in an allowance at Ellis Park for Dale Romans. Joe Talamo has the mount.
Lightly-raced Shadow Matter tries stakes company for the first time in the inaugural Harrods Creek Stakes. He has won two of four career starts for trainer Dallas Stewart.
Corey Lanerie takes the reins on Shadow Matter in the seven-furlong Harrods Creek.