Coach Brad Cox comes into the Could 1 $700,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs with the morning line favourite On Time Lady and a longshot Paradise . Run at 7 furlongs on the filth, the race is known as after the late filly Eight Belles, who was a valiant second within the 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1).
On Time Lady, owned and bred by Albaugh Household Stables, was the winner of the Jan. 31 Ahead Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, run at 7 furlongs, a race that carries 20 Kentucky Oaks (G1) factors to the victor. The daughter of Not This Time entered the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) Feb. 28, the place she completed a distant third behind She Be Easy and My Miss Mo . Incomes 15 Oaks factors for that effort, On Time Lady sat on the leaderboard with a complete of 35 factors. Whereas she might have entered the Kentucky Oaks, as she was forward of Beautiful Gray , who has just lately drawn into the race off the also-eligible listing, her connections determined to maintain her at 7 furlongs, a distance at which she has been victorious.
Till the morning the Kentucky Oaks was set to be drawn, Paradise remained a member of the sphere, however Cox opted for the Eight Belles when entries got here round. The three-year-old daughter of Gun Runner broke her maiden and gained the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack at a mile distance. She then entered the 1 1/8 miles Gazelle Stakes (G3), the place she was a distant third place because the post-time favourite. Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, Paradise is a 15-1 longshot within the Eight Belles.
Together with Cox’s two entrants, Michael Stidham and Lael Stables, Luv Your Neighbor can even run within the Eight Belles, even after incomes 65 factors in the direction of the Kentucky Oaks. Her factors got here from second-place finishes within the Silverbulletday Stakes and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), and a third-place end within the Honest Grounds Oaks (G2), all at Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots. Her solely profession win got here on the 7 furlong distance, scoring in her maiden first out, Sep. 10 at Colonial Downs.
They may face stiff competitors within the discipline of 9, together with the Steve Asmussen trainee Goodall . Slated because the 3-1 second alternative within the betting swimming pools, the daughter of Yaupon can be stretching out previous 6 furlongs for the primary time in her brief profession. Owned by Spendthrift Farm, she broke her maiden on her second try Feb. 14 at Honest Grounds, earlier than wheeling again within the March 14 Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the place she gained by 4 1/2 lengths.
The Eight Belles is on a jam-packed Could 1 card at Churchill Downs, which is highlighted by the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks.
Entries: Eight Belles S. offered by Sysco (G2)Churchill Downs, Friday, Could 01, 2026, Race 8Grade II7fDirt $700,0003 yo Fillies4:30 PM (native)
