(Set Piece / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

Juddmonte’s multiple graded stakes winner Set Piece(GB) leads an oversubscribed cast of 14 horses that were entered in Sunday’s $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

          Sunday’s featured River City is one of three stakes events on the program. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, the River City will go as the finale on the 10-race card at 5:35 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m. The card also includes the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine and $300,000 Dream Supreme.

          Trained by Brad Cox, Set Piece would achieve millionaire status with a victory in the River City. The 6-year-old gelded son of Dansili (GB) has won 11 of 24 career starts and banked $919,573 in purse earnings. Most recently, Set Piece closed from 12 lengths off the early pace in the $1 million Turf Mile (GI) at Keenealnd but finished fourth by 1 ¾ lengths to Annapolis. Earlier this year, Set Piece won the $250,000 Dinner Party (GII) and $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup (GIII). Jockey Florent Geroux will have the mount in the River City and break from post No. 11.

          Other accomplished turf specialists that entered the River City include $200,000 Louisville Stakes (GIII) winner Cellist; Grade I winner In Love (BRZ); and Grade III winner Pixelate.

          Here’s the complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Hozier (Julien Leparoux, Rodolphe Brisset); English Tavern (James Graham, Michelle Lovell); Beatbox (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux);Cellist (Corey Lanerie, Rusty Arnold II); In Love (BRZ) (Gerardo Corrales, Paulo Lobo); Militarist (Junior Alvarado, Carlo Vaccarezza); Pixelate (Vince Cheminaud, Mike Stidham); Max K.O. (Ricardo Santana Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr.); Street Ready (Luis Saez, Ian Wilkes); Accredit (Rafael Bejarano, Pavel Matejka); Set Piece (GB) (Geroux, Cox); and Field Pass (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker). Also Eligible: Starting Over (Adam Beschizza, Robert Falcone Jr.) and Rupp N Ready (Edgar Morales, Helen Pitts).

          The River City is scheduled to be contested in Lane 1 on the turf course.

          Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

FAN FAVORITE SCONSIN SET FOR LIKELY CAREER FINALE IN DREAM SUPREME – Lloyd Madison Farms’ multiple graded stakes winning mare Sconsin is set for her likely final start of her storied career in Sunday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme at Churchill Downs.

          The six-furlong Dream Supreme will go as Race 8 of 10 with a post time of 4:33 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m. The Sunday card also will feature the $300,000 River City (Grade III) in Race 10 and $300,000 Bet On Sunshine in Race 9.

          Sconsin, a now 5-year-old mare, has won five of 11 starts beneath the Twin Spires for trainer Greg Foley. Sconsin has been winless since winning the $200,000 Winning Colors (GIII) five starts ago. Since that race, Sconsin finished second in the $200,000 Chicago (GIII), third in the $300,000 Open Mind, fourth in the $200,000 Lady Tak and a disappointing sixth in the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (GII). Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard Sconsin from post No. 3.

          Chief among Sconsin’s rivals in the Dream Supreme include five-time winner Club Car and the speedy stakes winner Joyful Cadence.

          Here’s the complete field for the Dream Supreme from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Sharp Hero (Adam Beschizza, Bradley Ross); Club Car (Corey Lanerie, Ben Colebrook); Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley); Joyful Cadence (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Palm Cottage (Gerardo Corrales, Paulo Lobo); and Coppelia(Martin Garcia, Phil Bauer).

The Dream Supreme is named after the six-time graded stakes winner who won the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs in 2011. Trained by Bill Mott, Dream Supreme won two Grade I sprints in her 16-race career and earned $1,007,680 between 1999-2001.

BANGO SEEKS NINTH-CAREER CHURCHILL DOWNS VICTORY IN $300,000 BET ON SUNSHINE – Tamaroak Partners’ classy sprinter Bango will attempt to be only the fifth documented horse to score nine wins at Churchill Downs when he takes on a field of 10 horses that were entered in Sunday’s $300,000 Bet On Sunshine.

          The six-furlong Bet On Sunshine will go as Race 9 on the 10-race card with a post time of 5:05 p.m. (all times Eastern). The stellar Sunday program also features the $300,000 River City (GIII) and $300,000 Dream Supreme. First post is 1 p.m.

          Bango, a 5-year-old son of Congrats, scored his eighth victory at Churchill Downs on Sept. 23 when he crushed an allowance field by 4 ½ lengths under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Previously, the Greg Foley-trained horse won the $200,000 Aristides and $110,000 Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs.

          With a victory in the Bet on Sunshine, Bango would join Barrister Siv, Can’tholdmeback and Herreno with nine victories at Churchill Downs. Ready’s Rocket holds the most documented wins at Churchill Downs with 11.

          Gaffalione will be back in the saddle again for the Bet On Sunshine and the duo will break from post No. 4.

          Among Bango’s rivals that entered the 14th running of the Bet On Sunshine are recent $350,000 Phoenix (GII) runner-up Long Range Toddy; $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society winner Miles Ahead; and $160,000 St. Matthews Stakes winner Top Gunner.

          Here’s the complete field for the Bet On Sunshine from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Kavod(Brian Hernandez Jr., Chris Hartman); Top Gunner (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Surveillance (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux); Bango (Gaffalione, Foley); Long Range Toddy (Paco Lopez, Dallas Stewart); Torontotoro(Jack Gilligan, Paul McEntee); Mucho (Luis Saez, John Ortiz); Williston Way (Luis Batista, Israel Acevedo); Miles Ahead (Martin Garcia, Paul McGee); and Sibelius (Junior Alvarado, Jeremiah O’Dwyer).

The Bet On Sunshine is named in honor of the 13-time stakes winning sprinter who won back-to-back runnings of the Aristides Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Paul McGee, Bet On Sunshine posted a record of 22-7-10 and $1,449,892 from 47 starts between 1995-2002 for owner David P. Holloway Racing Inc. The Florida-bred gelded son of Big Bet finished third in Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) twice: behindElmhurst and Hesabull in 1997 at Hollywood Park and behind Kona Gold and the filly Honest Lady in 2000 at Churchill Downs. He also ran in the 2001 Sprint but finished 13th. He won eight of 20 starts at Churchill Downs with four seconds and four thirds.

HORSES BEGIN ARRIVING FOR SATUDAY’S CLAIMING CROWN DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – A total of 95 of some of the nation’s top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, are entered in Saturday’s 24th annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which will be staged beneath Churchill Downs’ historic Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky. for the first time.

          Here are the complete fields for each of the eight claiming crown races (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

  • Race 4, the $100,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial: Spycraft (Tyler Gaffalione, Joe Sharp, 5-1); Bad Beat Brian (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg, 5-2); My Pal Mattie (Gerardo Mora, Lee Thomas, 8-1);Creative Credit (Perry Ouzts, T.R. Haehn, 15-1); C C’s Kitten (Santo Sanjur, Anna Meah, 30-1); Petit Verdot (Florent Geroux, Tom Van Berg, 20-1); Boat’s a Rockin (Tyler Connor, Brandon Kulp, 5-1);Shelly Island (Jean Alvelo, Susan Cooney, 30-1); Seven Scents (Luis Saez, Tom Morley, 5-1); Chasing Artie (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr., 4-1); and Towing (Rafael Bejarano, Carlo Vaccarezza, 30-1).

  • Race 5, the $100,000 Glass Slipper Glass Slipper: Foreign Exchange (Ferrin Peterson, Paul Ares, 10-1);Teller to Sing (Rafael Bejarano, Claude Brownfield, 12-1); No More Mask (Jean Alvelo, Joanne Shankle, 15-1); Longleggedlaverne (Joe Ramos, Tianna Richardville, 9-2); Maoilin (Eddie Jurardo, Donald Blankenship, 6-1); Shes All Woman (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 9-5); Destiny’s Darling(Rolando Aragon, Michael Evans, 10-1); Hashtag Lucky (Jean Alvelo, Rodolfo Sanchez-Solomon, 8-1); and Invaluable (Luis Saez, Mike Maker, 4-1).

  • Race 6, the $100,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial: Bless the Kitten (Luis Saez, Jamie Grubbs, 7-2); Moment (Florent Geroux, Elias Lopez, 6-1); Blue Steel (Mitchell Murrill, George Leonard, 6-1);Peekacho (Corey Lanerie, Dave Vance, 15-1); Malibu Star (Abner Adorno, Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, 9-2); He Takes Charge (Joe Ramos, Randy Klopp, 8-1); Souper Catch (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 10-1); Time for Trouble (Joe Talamo, Jeff Hiles, 8-1); Moti (Anthony Salgado, Carl O’Callaghan, 20-1); andIywaan (Tyler Conner, Mark Salvaggio, 4-1).

  • Race 7, the $150,000 Tiara: Misty Veil (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 6-1); Cherokee Song (Rolando Aragon, Michael Evans, 50-1); Good Fight (Brian Hernandez Jr., Jeff Hiles, 15-1); Sunny One (James Graham, Conor Murphy, 2-1); Judy’s Way (Rafael Bejarano, Carlos Silva, 50-1); Peace With Honor(Gerardo Corrales, Hugh McMahon, 15-1); Starship Mallomar (Tyler Gaffalione, Ron Abrams, 5-1);Out of Sorts (Paco Lopez, Bobby Mosco, 12-1); Bye Bye Bertie (Julien Leparoux, Leonard Powell, 8-1); Candy Raid (Corey Lanerie, Keith Desormeaux, 12-1); Midnight Bella (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 12-1); and Wicked Groove (Manny Esquivel, Rob Atras, 4-1). Also Eligible: Kimberly Dream (Vince Cheminaud, Freddie Winston, 30-1). Main Track Only: World of Wonder (Tyler Gaffalione, Joe Sharp, 5-1).

  • Race 8, the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express: Silver Moon Road (Samuel Bermudez, Randy Klopp, 4-1); The Wolfman (Jean Alvelo, Joanne Shankle, 6-1); Game Boy Benny (Fernando De La Cruz, Cheryl Winebaugh, 20-1); Joyful Heart (Victor Lebron, George Bush, 8-1); Honorary Degree (Joe Musarro, Justin Sherman, 15-1); Nible Beast (Anthony Salgado, Elliott Soto-Martinez, 20-1); Beverly Park(Rafael Bejarano, Lynn Cash, 7-2); Hero Tiger (Luis Saez, John Kirby, 12-1); Thirsty Betrayal (Joe Talamo, Matt Shirer, 10-1); Powerfully Built (Tyler Gaffalione, Ronald Abrams, 4-1); Crazy Legs Hirsch (Corey Lanerie, Sarah Davidson, 20-1); and Don’t Forget (Francisco Arrieta, Aaron Shorter, 12-1). Also-Eligible: Elle’sbigseacret (Isaias Ayala, Cheryl Shifflett, 20-1).

  • Race 9, the $125,000 Rapid Transit: Ragtime Blues (Paco Lopez, Kelly Breen, 4-1); Divine Leader(Edgar Morales, John Ennis, 8-1); First Glimpse (Rafael Bejarano, Carlos Silva, 12-1); Cajun Brother(Brian Hernandez Jr., Bob Hess Jr., 12-1); No Burn (Luis Saez, Oscar Barrera III, 3-1); Family Man(Tyler Gaffalione, Robert Medina, 7-2); Powell (Alexandra Sherman, Justin Sherman, 50-1); So Dialed In (Edwin Gonzalez, Jeff Skerrett, 15-1); Lt. Junior Grade (Corey Lanerie, Tom Van Berg, 6-1);Alexandros (Francisco Arrieta, Trish Duncan, 15-1); Soaring Bird (Jack Gilligan, Will Walden, 20-1); and The Queens Jules (Florent Geroux, Tom Van Berg, 15-1).

  • Race 10, $175,000 Jewel: Benevengo (Luis Saez, Jesus Cruz, 7-2); Frosted Grace (Chris Landeros, Robertino Diodoro, 20-1); Calibrator (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 15-1); Keystone Field (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker, 10-1); Intrepid Heart (tyler Gaffalione, Joe Sharp, 5-2); Digital (Corey Lanerie, Rick Hiles, 15-1); Tiz Rye Time (Rafael Bejarano, Tom Van Berg, 10-1); Decision Maker (Florent Geroux, Tom Van Berg, 8-1); Twelve Volt Man (Edwin Gonzalez, Saffie Joseph Jr., 8-1); and Ournationonparade (Paco Lopez, Jamie Ness, 9-2).

  • Race 11, $150,000 Emerald: Red Flag Alert (Fernando, De La Cruz, Cheryl Winebaugh, 20-1); Rogue Element (Corey Lanerie, Jeff Hiles, 20-1); Driftwood (Rafael Bejarano, Matt Kordenbrock, 8-1); Onenightstandards (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 5-2); Underdressed (Edgar Morales, Rey Hernandez, 15-1); Bear Oak (Rogelio Miranda, Ismael Bahena, 30-1); Samui Sunset (Jean Alvelo, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 15-1); Major Wager (Santo Sanjur, Anna Meah, 20-1); Big Agenda (Luis Saez, Joe Sharp, 7-2); Carom (Martin Garcia, Eddie Kenneally, 12-1); Freedom Matters (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 3-1); and Markitoff (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis, 20-1). Also Eligible: On a Spree (Adam Beschizza, Juan Cano, 20-1); Max K.O. (Edwin Gonzalez, Joseph, 3-1); and Shady McGee(IRE) (Gerardo Corrales, Maker, 6-1). Main Track Only: Palace Coup (Gaffalione, Joe Sharp, 5-2).

The Claiming Crown features lucrative prize money for horse racing’s blue-collar athletes as they compete for $1.05 million in purses over eight races with starter allowance conditions. The event will bring together claiming-level horses from around the country as horses based in 11 different states are represented: Kentucky, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

          The first of 11 races Saturday is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Claiming Crown will cover Races 4-11 starting at 2:30 p.m. Racing from Churchill Downs is scheduled to be televised on FS2’s “America’s Day at the Races” from 2-6 p.m.

          The marquee event, the $175,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up that started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2021-22, goes as Race 10 at 5:35 p.m. Last year’s winner at Gulfstream Park, the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Twelve Volt Man, is back to defend his title.

          Fans can bet on the Claiming Crown on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc. and the Kentucky Derby.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Thursday’s nine-race card had a first post of 1 p.m. The Derby City 6 Jackpot started over after it was hit Wednesday for $49,533.35. … Friday is Military Appreciation Day at Churchill Downs. Active and retired military members will receive free general admission and discounted dining tickets. For more information, visit www.ChurchillDowns.com. … Survivors of breast cancer will join family and friends, Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear and other dignitaries on Sunday at Churchill Downs for the track’s annual “Horses and Hope Day at the Races.” The daylong celebration is designed to raise awareness and funding for the work of “Horses and Hope,” the breast cancer outreach initiative that provides information and offers free breast cancer screenings to workers in Kentucky’s signature horse racing industry. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will air Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. Those outside the Louisville area can listen live on www.espnlouisville.com.