The $300,000 Blame Stakes (G3) offers one of the more diverse fields at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The 11-race card is loaded with six graded stakes, three on dirt and three on turf, but the Blame for 4-year-olds and up is quite the betting dilemma: Stick with multi-millionaires Hit Show and Rattle N Roll or load up on lightly-raced Vibe, the 9-5 morning-line favorite?
Vibe, a bay son of Into Mischief, has won three in a row for Todd Pletcher after running fourth in his career debut for trainer Anthony Sciametta.
The drawback? He’s trying two turns (1 1/8 miles) for the first time, against the likes of Hit Show, winner of the 2025 Dubai World Cup (G1), winner of the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) in February, and a decent fifth in Dubai on March 28, trying to defend his title. After four solid works at Churchill Downs, he is ready to go again.
And there’s 7-year-old warrior Rattle N Roll gearing up for his 33rd career start. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the son of Connect knows Churchill well, with four wins from 11 starts over the track, including victories in the 2023 Blame Stakes and the 2024 Clark Stakes (G2). He was fifth last out in the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 18.
Hit Show, with earnings of $9.4 million, likes to settle in mid-pack and should pose a serious threat as the field turns for home. Trained by Brad Cox, Hit Show will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., from post 3.
Rattle N Roll (4-1), with earnings of $3.9 million, leaves from the rail under Flavien Prat. He may have a tougher time as a closer since he’ll likely need a hot pace that may not happen in this field of eight.
Vibe, a $3 million purchase in 2023, is favored based on three pace-stalking victories at a mile, two at Gulfstream Park, and most recently a three-length win at Churchill on Derby Day, May 2. He leaves from the outside post 8 under Luis Saez.
Vibe and Original Sin (15-1), a 4-year-old son of Curlin, are the two entries coming into the Blame off victories. Original Sin, trained by Brendan Walsh, won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on April 11. Consider him in a trifecta, and don’t rule him out of pulling off an upset.
Post time is 5:28 p.m. ET.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
