Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Encino Tackles G3 River City on Saturday

(Encino / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

ENCINO BRINGS MULTI-SURFACE SUCCESS TO SATURDAY’S $300,000 RIVER CITY

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025) – Godolphin’s Encino has proven his versatility with victories on dirt, turf and all-weather surfaces and will look to add another turf win to his resumé Saturday in the $300,000 River City (Grade III), one of two stakes on an 11-race program at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Brad Cox, Encino enters the River City off a 1 ¾-length victory in the Presque Isle Mile, where he rallied from just off the pace to defeat seven rivals over the all-weather surface. Two months earlier, he captured the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes (Listed) on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis and last year won the Lexington (GIII) on dirt at Keeneland.

“He’s a very classy horse who gives it his all on any surface,” said Trace Messina, assistant trainer to Cox. “He’s a fast horse but has shown he’s able to sit off the pace if he needs to. We’re looking forward to him running another top effort on Saturday.”

The field for the River City from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei, 30-1)
Epic Ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis, 8-1)
Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 20-1)
Encino (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox, 5-1)
Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch, 10-1)
Chasing the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 7-2)
Mercante (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg, 10-1)
Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 5-1)
Lagynos (Frankie Dettori, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 30-1)
Tapit Shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
Taking Candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1)

Trainer John Ennis reported that Epic Ride will likely run in a Friday turf allowance event at Churchill Downs instead of the River City.

“It’s his final run of the year, so after this start we’ll give him a rest before the spring,” Ennis said. “I’m thinking we’ll go in Friday’s allowance instead of the (River City). I know they’re calling for rain Friday, but even if it comes off, we’ll probably still run.”

Jockey agent Ron Anderson reported to Thoroughbred Daily News’ Bill Finley that Frankie Dettoriwill not be aboard Lagynos in Saturday’s race. Dettori announced his retirement from North American riding following last week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Dettori stated he’ll ride in South America in early 2026 then join AMO Racing as a global brand ambassador.

Run at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course, the River City will go as the finale with a post time of 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). One race earlier, fillies and mares will be featured in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).

R DISASTER SLATED AS 9-5 CHOICE IN $300,000 DREAM SUPREME – Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and ATM Racing’s recent Gallant Bloom Stakes (Grade II) winner R Disaster leads a competitive field of 10 fillies and mares as the 9-5 morning line choice in Saturday’s 20^th running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

The speedy R Disaster, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., arrived at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 to continue her preparation for Saturday’s race. In her last start, she scored a front-running victory over seven rivals in the Gallant Bloom during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. Overall, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Slew has never finished outside the top two from 12 starts with seven wins and five runner-up efforts. R Disaster will exit post No. 7 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle.

The lineup for the Dream Supreme Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):