Cash Equity May Generate Returns in River City Stakes

Cash Equity , Reckoning Force , and Emmanuel —separated by 1 1/4 lengths when respectively second, fourth, and fifth, in the one-mile Millions Stakes (G3T) Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs—battle over a longer trip and at different Kentucky turf course Nov. 9 in the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.

The three competitors, part of a closely-matched 10-horse field, compete over 1 1/8 miles, additional ground over which the trio have all been previously successful.

Not one of the 10 entrants has a prior win over the Churchill turf course, the use of which has been scaled back at times due to underperformance.

Ken Ramsey’s Cash Equity, twice second over the course in as many attempts in the spring, leads the field with 2024 earnings of $335,815 despite not having won in eight starts. A race after the Millions at Kentucky Downs, the 6-year-old gelded son of Toronado  was seventh in the Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.  

Reflective of that race’s high quality, More Than Looks , the runner-up, returned to win the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar.

California-based Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, aboard Cash Equity last out, travels to Kentucky to ride Cash Equity, a gray and/or roan, for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who also runs the Jaime Torres-ridden Public Sector  in the River City.

This past Saturday, Joseph won his first Breeder’s Cup race when Soul of an Angel  took the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) for the trainer.

The Mike Maker-trained Emmanuel, a 5-year-old son of More Than Ready , also exits grade 1 company, having been a well-beaten fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Reckoning Force, conditioned by Brendan Walsh, stayed at the grade 3 class level after the Millions, finishing third, beaten a neck, in the Oct. 13 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct.

Other contenders in the River City include Masteroffoxhounds , the streaking Battle of Normandy , and millionaire Gigante .

Smith Also on Spirit Wind for Joseph in Dream Supreme

The River City is the 10th race at Churchill Saturday, two races after the $300,000 Dream Supreme for female sprinters at six furlongs on the main track.

Miller Racing’s Spirit Wind , a front-running winner of the Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) this summer at Saratoga Race Course and recently second in the Oct. 5 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland for Joseph, is the Dream Supreme headliner under Smith.

Her principal foe is the up-and-coming Mystic Pleasure , a fast allowance optional claiming winner at Keeneland Oct. 13.

The Dream Supreme lineup also includes Upper Case , twice a runner-up to Mystic Pleasure in as many matchups since the summer.