Breeders’ Cup winner Sharing to kick off her season at Churchill Downs
Without a turf stakes on the calendar for Sharing’s division, Aron Wellman, head of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, said in recent weeks that connections were taking a “slow and steady approach” to the Maryland-bred filly’s training.
Now, it’s time to ramp things up.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner is pointing for Churchill Downs’ $100,000 Tepin Stakes on May 23 for her season debut. At a mile on the lawn, the Tepin is restricted to 3-year-old fillies.
The Graham Motion-trained Sharing went 3-for-4 last year, improving as the distances increased after finishing third in her Saratoga debut going 5 1/2 furlongs. Sharing stretched to 7/8 of a mile when breaking her maiden at the Spa, then won Laurel Park’s 1 1/16-mile Selima Stakes leading into the Breeders’ Cup.
This season, connections first passed up the March 7 Florida Oaks (G3) thinking Pimlico’s Hilltop Stakes could prepare her for a run at Royal Ascot. But racing has since shut down in Maryland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new schedule was required.
Based with Motion at the Fair Hill training center, Sharing, by Speightstown and out of Shared Account — both Breeders’ Cup winners themselves — tuned up Saturday with a bullet 3/4-mile breeze in 1:13.60.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners campaigns Sharing with Gainesway Stable.
Churchill’s Tepin is one of four new stakes offerings on May 23 along with the Blame for older horses on dirt, the Shawnee for older females and War Chant for 3-year-olds on turf. Additionally, the 23rd renewal of the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) — now offering points toward the Kentucky Derby — tops the card.