For many years, the Met Mile (G1) anchored the Memorial Day card at Belmont Park. That tradition ended in 2014, when Martin Panza, then the New York Racing Association's racing secretary, introduced the “Big Day” concept on Belmont Stakes (G1) day.
Panza stacked 10 stakes on the day California Chrome went for the Triple Crown. The chestnut colt's bid failed, but Panza's idea succeeded, producing a total handle of more than $150 million, a Belmont day record, for the 13-race program. His innovation spread to tracks throughout the country, and it's still going strong.
In 2021, Panza told BloodHorse: “The 2014 Belmont will always stick out to me. As a team, we created something, and we crushed records. That told me that packaging the stakes was the right thing to do.”
Saturday's card at Churchill Downs continues what Panza began, featuring six graded stakes, three on dirt and three on turf. The Shawnee Stakes (G2), Aristides Stakes (G3), and Blame Stakes (G3) will be run on the main track, while the Mint Julep Stakes (G3), Regret Stakes (G3), and Arlington Stakes (G3) will be on the grass.
I'll look at the turf races. And if you're interested in wagering on them, maybe I can point you toward a winner or two.
Charlene's Dream (post 1, 12-1) has four wins on grass, including the Beverly D (G2), and each time she went wire to wire. She has the best early-pace numbers and shapes up as the lone speed. Don't worry about her 11th-place finish last month in her 2026 debut, the 5 1/2-furlong Giant's Causeway (G2). Sprinting isn't her forte, and chasing hot fractions (:21 3/5, :44 2/5) that day at Keeneland should only sharpen her speed.
The only other need-to-lead type entered is Stylish Sue (post 9, 20-1), but she's not nearly as quick. Expect Jaime Torres to push hard early from the outside post, and if Stylish Sue pressures Charlene's Dream for a half-mile, that could set up the two best closers, Proctor Street (post 5, 3-1) and Medoro (post 4, 5-2).
Proctor Street is 4-for-6 at the distance, 1-for-3 at Churchill, and should improve off a solid third-place finish behind multiple-stakes winners Kathynmarissa and Gezora in the 1 1/8-mile Modesty Stakes (G3).
Medoro couldn't be more consistent, with six wins and a 14-for-15 record in the money on grass. The wild card is Sweet Treasure (post 8, 6-1), who could improve off a solid allowance win for super trainer Brad Cox. She's 4-for-8 on turf, including 2-for-3 at Churchill, but 0-for-3 in stakes.
Tam Tam (post 9, 5-2) has done nothing wrong since switching to grass. She's 2-for-3 on the surface after missing by a head last time in the Edgewood (G2) against two-time stakes winner Imaginationthelady. Tam Tam led until deep stretch after winning twice as a stalker.
Storm's Wake (post 8, 3-1) is a big finisher who understandably couldn't overcome being 13th early, 9 1/4 lengths behind, in the Edgewood. She surged the final three-sixteenths of a mile in about 28 3/5 seconds to come in fifth, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths. In her previous start, she pulled a 21-1 upset in Keeneland's Appalachian Stakes (G2) by blasting the final quarter-mile in about 23 seconds.
Indigo Woods (post 1, 4-1) also closed powerfully when sixth in the Edgewood, going the final three-sixteenths of a mile in less than 29 seconds after being compromised by post 12. Switching to the rail should help.
Whom do you prefer? Lagynos (post 3, 5-2), who's won three stakes in a row, or horse for course Brilliant Berti (post 10, 9-2), who's lost four straight, but is 5-for-6 over the Churchill grass.
Lagynos finished ahead of Brilliant Berti in their last two meetings, but Brilliant Berti outran him twice last year at Churchill, his happy place. Traditional handicapping wisdom says to stick with the in-form horse, but Brilliant Berti has a few factors in his favor. He's making his third start of the season and dropping from a Grade 1. He'll also be a better price than Lagynos, who was fully extended last time to nose out Chasing the Crown, loser of five in a row.
Lagynos is only 2-for-8 going 1 1/16 miles, where Brilliant Berti is 3-for-5. Maybe he's not the horse he used to be and won't be able to handle Lagynos, but I'm willing to take a shot at juicier odds.
Ed McNamara is an award-winning racing writer who has covered the sport since 1981 for The Bergen (N.J.) Record, Newsday, ESPN, Thorocap, and USRacing. He is the author of Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown and Racing Around the World, and a contributor to The Most Glorious Crown and The Racetracks of America. He has also written for racing publications in France and Italy.
