After overwhelming seven other 2-year-olds in his 4 1/2-furlong debut at Churchill Downs, Cinco Charlie will stretch out to six furlongs for his stakes debut June 28 in the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill.
Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cinco Charlie drew off in the stretch of his May 9 debut to post a 2 3/4-length victory under Shaun Bridgmohan, who will be showing the way in Saturday's race as well.
Cinco Charlie, an Indian Charlie colt, is conditioned by current Churchill meet leading trainer Steve Asmussen, who will be looking for his fourth victory in the Bashford Manor. Asmussen saddled Kantharos to victory in 2010, Kodiak Kowboy in 2007, and Lunarpal, a homebred for Bill Heiligbrodt, in 2004. Asmussen also will send out Lucky Player, a debut winner at Churchill on May 23, who is scheduled to break from the outside in the field of six.
Bred in Kentucky by Candyland Farm, Cinco Charlie is out of the stakes-placed Marquetry mare Ten Halos, who is a half sister to graded stakes winners My Pal Charlie, Bwana Bull, and Bwana Charlie. Like Cinco Charlie, My Pal Charlie and Bwana Charlie are by Indian Charlie.
The Heiligbrodts landed Cinco Charlie for $190,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training.
The lone stakes winner in the field is Tim O'Donahue Racing's Governmentshutdown, who enters off a clear victory in the Rollicking Stakes May 16 at Pimlico Race Course. The most experienced juvenile in the race, the son of Exchange Rate will be making his fourth career start in the Bashford Manor.
Every single horse entered in the Bashford Manor is coming off a win, including debut winners Skyway and Silverhill, along with Draw Nigh who won in his second start.
$100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III, race 6, approximate post time 3:16 p.m. EDT) 2YO, 6 Furlongs
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Skyway (NY), S. Elliott, 120, M. Casse
2. Governmentshutdown (KY), J. Betancourt, 122, J. Robb
3. Draw Nigh (OH), J. Rocco Jr., 120, J. Rankin
4. Cinco Charlie (KY), S. Bridgmohan, 120, S. Asmussen
5. Silverhill (TX), C. Lanerie, 120, W. Calhoun
6. Lucky Player (FL), J. Leparoux, 120, S. Asmussen
