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Churchill Downs Race 4 - Race 4 - Claiming

J B STRIKES BACK (7) is back from a break of 18 months. Raced below par at his only appearance last prep when fifth over 2012m in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap (Dirt). Capable of playing a major role. CURLIN'S MALIBU (4) was well in commission last time out but could only manage to finish seventh over 1710m at Colonial Downs (Dirt) in a disappointing performance. It doesn't get any easier but on his best form he is one of the key runners. REAL FAST (2) finished out of the money two starts back then he was always well out of his ground and was beaten 14 lengths when ninth in a 1710m contest at Ellis Park Turf seven-and-a-half weeks ago. Tackling a more suitable race this time so he is a major player. BESTFRIEND ROCKET (1) got the prize two runs ago but couldn't follow that up last time out when fourth over 1609m at Colonial Downs, beaten 4 lengths. Worth plenty of thought.

Race Time:6:13 PM

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Track:Good

Weather:mostly-cloudy

Prize Money:$0.00

Distance:1710m

Bestfriend Rocket (1)2x6356x414

Trainer: Jordan Blair (USA)12 mths 17: 4-1-2

Jockey: Edgar Morales

Weight: 55.5kgs

4 yo Chestnut G

Sire: CURLIN (USA)

Dam: NOBLE AND A BEAUTY (USA)

Dam's Sire: Noble Causeway

Stats

Prize Money$392,700.00

Avg $$23,100.00

Win %23.53%

Place %41.18%

Career17: 4-1-2

Track4: 1-0-1

Distance9: 4-0-2

Tr / Dist2: 1-0-1

1st Up4: 1-0-0

2nd Up4: 1-0-1

Firm10: 3-0-1

Good0: 0-0-0

Soft0: 0-0-0

Heavy0: 0-0-0

Synthetic0: 0-0-0

Comments

Form hard to fault. Returns from a 52-day let-up. Last start 4th of 7 at Colonial Downs on July 26 over 1609m, 4 len behind Break Out with 55.5kg at $5.70. The run before that came from midfield and scored a big 4 len win at this track on June 24 over 1710m defeating Excel Calculator with 53.5kg at $5. Sure to be about the money.

Last Starts 53 days since last start

Place	Date	Days	Class	Prize	Track	Dist.	Cnd.	Jockey	Weight	Race Time	In Run	Gate	Result	Margin	Starting Price
4/7	26/07/2026	32	CLM 3U	$72,569.00	Colonial Downs	1609m	Fast	Jareth Loveberry	55.5kg	1:35.66	6-4-4	2	1. Break Out 2. Just A Fair Shake 3. Union Fleet	4.0L	$5.70
1/7	24/06/2026	46	CLM 4U	$87,083.00	Churchill Downs	1710m	Fast	Edgar Morales	53.5kg	1:45.00	4-1-1	4	1. Bestfriend Rocket 2. Excel Calculator 3. Quality Chic	4.0L	$5.00
4/6	09/05/2026	82	CLM 4U	$108,939.00	Churchill Downs	1609m	Fast	Jaime A Torres	53.5kg	1:35.10	6-4-4	6	1. Skyro 2. I Don't Get It 3. Warrior Richard	5.8L	$20.55
6/8	16/02/2026	45	ALLOW 4U	$92,725.00	Oaklawn Park	1710m	Fast	Jaime A Torres	53.5kg	1:44.00	6-6-6	3	1. Systemic Change 2. Mena 3. Protonic Power	17.5L	$26.40
5/6	02/01/2026	47	LR OPEN 4	$201,794.00	Oaklawn Park	1710m	Fast	Jaime A Torres	55.5kg	1:43.28	4-5-5	6	1. Tap Into This 2. First Division 3. Amorosa	20.8L	$39.50
3/9	16/11/2025	23	CLM 3U	$119,084.00	Churchill Downs	1710m	Fast	Junior Alvarado	53.5kg	1:43.13	7-4-3	4	1. Carolo Rapido 2. C F V Bullet 3. Bestfriend Rocket	4.0L	$6.15

Dai Vernon (2)4797x32546

Trainer: Carlos A David (USA)12 mths 24: 3-3-2

Jockey: Luis Saez

Weight: 55.5kgs

6 yo Chestnut G

Sire: GOOD MAGIC (USA)

Dam: CHARLADORA (USA)

Dam's Sire: Scat Daddy

Stats

Prize Money$420,690.00

Avg $$17,528.75

Win %12.50%

Place %33.33%

Career24: 3-3-2

Track7: 2-1-1

Distance9: 2-0-1

Tr / Dist5: 2-0-1

1st Up6: 0-0-1

2nd Up5: 2-1-0

Firm21: 3-2-2

Good0: 0-0-0

Soft0: 0-0-0

Heavy0: 0-0-0

Synthetic2: 0-0-0

Comments

Comes here off a 60-day let-up. Most recently 6th of 9 at Ellis Park on July 18 over 1609m, 10 len behind Groveland with 55.5kg at $15.11. Before that 4th in a small field at this track on June 10 over 1710m, 6 len behind Urban Planner with 53.5kg at $3.37. Well held last time and facing tough task today.

Last Starts 61 days since last start

Place	Date	Days	Class	Prize	Track	Dist.	Cnd.	Jockey	Weight	Race Time	In Run	Gate	Result	Margin	Starting Price
6/9	18/07/2026	38	CLM 3U	$71,327.00	Ellis Park	1609m	Fast	Axel Concepcion	55.5kg	1:36.52	4-8-6	3	1. Groveland 2. Fort Sam 3. Seize The Night	10.8L	$15.11
4/6	10/06/2026	59	CLM 4U	$89,261.00	Churchill Downs	1710m	Fast	Jose Ortiz	53.5kg	1:43.48	4-6-4	5	1. Urban Planner 2. Warrior Richard 3. C F V Bullet	6.8L	$3.37
5/7	12/04/2026	30	CLM 4U	$61,135.00	Gulfstream Park	1609m	Fast	Micah J Husbands	56kg	1:37.28	3-5-5	7	1. To The Eastside 2. Swashbuckle 3. Arabian Prince	8.1L	$2.80
2/4	13/03/2026	33	CLM 4U	$56,180.00	Gulfstream Park	1609m	Good	Pietro Moran	55.5kg	1:37.86	2-1-2	1	1. Real Macho 2. Dai Vernon 3. Brooklyn Guy	0.1L	$5.50
3/5	08/02/2026	79	CLM 4U	$57,061.00	Gulfstream Park	1609m	Fast	Junior Alvarado	56.5kg	1:38.16	5-3-3	1	1. I Don't Get It 2. Real Macho 3. Dai Vernon	8.8L	$7.30
7/10	21/11/2025	48	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$179,542.00	Woodbine Aw	1710m	Fast	Jalon L Samuel	56kg	1:45.89	9-8-7	10	1. Runaway Again 2. No More Options 3. Lac Macaza	6.3L	$30.50

California Burrito (3)178x65370x

Trainer: Thomas Drury 12 mths 13: 3-1-1

Jockey: Cristian A. Torres

Weight: 55.5kgs

4 yo Bay G

Sire: ARMY MULE (USA)

Dam: BLUEGRASS SUNSET (USA)

Dam's Sire: Hard Spun

Stats

Prize Money$398,109.00

Avg $$30,623.77

Win %23.08%

Place %38.46%

Career13: 3-1-1

Track3: 1-1-0

Distance2: 1-1-0

Tr / Dist1: 0-1-0

1st Up3: 1-0-0

2nd Up2: 0-1-0

Firm10: 2-1-1

Good0: 0-0-0

Soft0: 0-0-0

Heavy0: 0-0-0

Synthetic6: 2-0-1

Comments

Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of three months. Finished off last preparation when last of 10 at Churchill Downs Turf June 17 over 1609m, 17 len behind Seminole Chief with 53.5kg at $25.06. First up last campaign sixth of 10 at Churchill Downs Turf in the G3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes November 22 over 1710m, 7 len behind Giocoso with 53.5kg at $32.61. Solid return wouldn't surprise.

Last Starts 92 days since last start

Place	Date	Days	Class	Prize	Track	Dist.	Cnd.	Jockey	Weight	Race Time	In Run	Gate	Result	Margin	Starting Price
10/10	17/06/2026	62	CLM 4U	$125,523.00	Churchill Downs	1609m	FM	Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr	53.5kg	1:34.11	8-10-10	9	1. Seminole Chief 2. Andthewinneris 3. Tapit Shoes	17.9L	$25.06
7/8	16/04/2026	48	ALLOW 4U	$203,785.00	Keeneland	1710m	FM	Luis Saez	53.5kg	1:41.62	8-7-7	8	1. Just A Touch 2. Judge Davis 3. Maycocks Bay	49.3L	$18.91
3/8	27/02/2026	62	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$151,213.00	Turfway Park	1609m	Fast	Edgar Morales	56kg	1:38.89	2-1-3	4	1. Tapit Shoes 2. Wadsworth 3. California Burrito	4.1L	$8.15
5/7	27/12/2025	35	LR OPEN 3	$191,424.00	Turfway Park	1811m	Fast	Edgar Morales	56kg	1:50.72	1-5-5	1	1. Anegada 2. Final Gambit 3. Energize	4.6L	$7.68
6/10	22/11/2025	203	G3 OPEN 3	$458,015.00	Churchill Downs	1710m	FM	Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr	53.5kg	1:41.47	3-7-6	1	1. Giocoso 2. Chapman's Peak 3. Outrunner	7.9L	$32.61
8/9	03/05/2025	42	G2 OPEN 3	$937,500.00	Churchill Downs	1609m	SP	Irving Moncada	53.5kg	1:35.65	3-9-8	3	1. Macho Music 2. Madaket Road 3. Gaming	33.3L	$7.73

Smoken Boy (4)785x264475

Trainer: Berg Brittany Vanden (USA)12 mths 19: 4-2-0

Jockey: Christopher A. Emigh

Weight: 55.5kgs

4 yo Grey/Roan G

Sire: CATHOLIC BOY (USA)

Dam: SMOKEN DEB (USA)

Dam's Sire: Cairo Prince

Stats

Prize Money$276,908.00

Avg $$14,574.11

Win %21.05%

Place %31.58%

Career19: 4-2-0

Track2: 0-0-0

Distance5: 3-0-0

Tr / Dist0: 0-0-0

1st Up2: 0-1-0

2nd Up2: 0-0-0

Firm14: 1-1-0

Good0: 0-0-0

Soft0: 0-0-0

Heavy0: 0-0-0

Synthetic2: 0-1-0

Comments

Returns from a 52-day let-up. Most recently 5th of 8 at Ellis Park Turf on July 26 over 1710m, 6 len behind Baltimore Heart with 55.5kg at $16.48. The start before that ran second last of 8 at this track on June 25 over 1609m, on heavy track; 13 len behind Big City carrying 53.5kg at $17.99. Will find this too difficult.

Last Starts 53 days since last start

Place	Date	Days	Class	Prize	Track	Dist.	Cnd.	Jockey	Weight	Race Time	In Run	Gate	Result	Margin	Starting Price
5/8	26/07/2026	31	CLM 3U	$67,126.00	Ellis Park	1710m	FM	Axel Concepcion	55.5kg	1:40.11	2-4-5	3	1. Baltimore Heart 2. Franz Josef 3. Special Justice	6.1L	$16.48
7/8	25/06/2026	35	CLM 4U	$99,024.00	Churchill Downs	1609m	Heavy	Emmanuel Esquivel	53.5kg	1:36.99	5-7-7	4	1. Big City 2. Groveland 3. Real Macho	13.8L	$17.99
4/4	21/05/2026	14	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$44,693.00	Hawthorne	1207m	Fast	Luis H Colon	56kg	1:09.42	3-4-4	1	1. Fast Jack 2. Baby Boat 3. Ravin's Ransom	5.5L	$9.50
4/6	07/05/2026	43	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$44,693.00	Hawthorne	1207m	Fast	Luis H Colon	56kg	1:10.23	5-3-4	1	1. Can Do Andrew 2. Baby Boat 3. Call Me Q	3.8L	$18.60
6/7	25/03/2026	21	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$146,067.00	Turfway Park	1207m	Fast	R Prescott	56kg	1:09.45	2-5-6	6	1. Baxley 2. Brodeur 3. The Great Oz	10.0L	$20.22
2/7	04/03/2026	116	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$146,067.00	Turfway Park	1308m	Fast	Fernando De La Cruz	56kg	1:18.48	2-5-2	4	1. Dr Saikali 2. Smoken Boy 3. Zambezi	2.3L	$29.80

J B Strikes Back (5)1604111x5x

Trainer: Doug F O'neill 12 mths 10: 4-0-0

Jockey: Luan Machado

Weight: 55.5kgs

5 yo Dark Bay/Brown G

Sire: GOLDENCENTS (USA)

Dam: ALLANAH (USA)

Dam's Sire: Scat Daddy

Stats

Prize Money$303,156.00

Avg $$30,315.60

Win %40.00%

Place %40.00%

Career10: 4-0-0

Track0: 0-0-0

Distance1: 1-0-0

Tr / Dist0: 0-0-0

1st Up3: 0-0-0

2nd Up1: 1-0-0

Firm10: 4-0-0

Good0: 0-0-0

Soft0: 0-0-0

Heavy0: 0-0-0

Synthetic0: 0-0-0

Comments

Back after a long spell. Only had one start last campaign 5th of 8 in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 1 2025 over 2012m, 17 len behind Locked with 54kg at $28.60. When resuming last campaign 6th of 8 at Santa Anita Turf on May 24 2024 over 1308m, 7 len behind Uncle Reg with 53.5kg at $14.20. Winning hope in a suitable contest.

Last Starts 565 days since last start

Place	Date	Days	Class	Prize	Track	Dist.	Cnd.	Jockey	Weight	Race Time	In Run	Gate	Result	Margin	Starting Price
5/8	01/03/2025	65	G1 OPEN 4U	$481,541.00	Santa Anita Park	2012m	Fast	Antonio Fresu	54kg	2:01.71	3-6-5	4	1. Locked 2. Express Train 3. Hit Show	17.8L	$28.60
1/8	26/12/2024	33	G2 OPEN 3U	$308,166.00	Santa Anita Park	1710m	Fast	Antonio Fresu	54kg	1:43.80	7-1-1	3	1. J B Strikes Back 2. Tarantino 3. American Admiral	1.3L	$17.40
1/5	23/11/2024	20	ALLOW OCLM 3U	$83,714.00	Del Mar	1609m	Fast	J J Hernandez	54.5kg	1:36.36	1-1-1	3	1. J B Strikes Back 2. Speed Grazy 3. Wendelssohn	3.3L	$2.00
1/5	03/11/2024	30	HCP 3U	$47,184.00	Del Mar	1609m	Fast	Antonio Fresu	54.5kg	1:36.64	1-1-1	5	1. J B Strikes Back 2. Demotivate 3. Smokem Ez	6.3L	$4.00
4/10	04/10/2024	26	HCP 3U	$44,798.00	Santa Anita Park	1609m	Fast	Antonio Fresu	55kg	1:37.58	6-4-4	4	1. Navy Man 2. Demotivate 3. Jerry's Spirit	3.8L	$16.60
10/12	08/09/2024	36	ALLOW 3U	$58,824.00	Del Mar	1710m	FM	Reyluis Gutierrez	55kg	1:42.53	4-10-10	12	1. Phosphorescence 2. Dealers Special 3. Mongolian Altai	9.2L	$57.00