Churchill Stakes Action Opens with Grade 3 Regret

Don’t Leave Me is the narrow morning line favorite at odds of 3/1 for trainer Malcom Pierce after finishing second in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine May 24. The three year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid won the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks March 21 at Turfway and has proven her class over synthetic footing with two wins in three starts including the two aforementioned stakes tries. In her two starts on turf, Don’t Leave Me has a victory against allowance foes last year, but was subsequently defeated soundly on the grass in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine finishing sixth beaten 11 ¾ lengths. The Regret marks Don’t Leave Me’s first stakes try as a three year-old.

Zuzu could finally break through

Lady Zuzu (7/2), was a $1.2 million purchase as a yearling, and has hinted at major ability in her seven-race career despite just a maiden victory to her credit. In her last two starts, the daughter of Dynaformer showed early speed in the both the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill and Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico before tiring to finish third. With little other early speed signed on in the Regret, Lady Zuzu is a logical choice for win honors.

Maiden winner tries stakes foes 

Also checking in at 7/2 on the morning line is co-second choice Return to Grace who broke her maiden by two lengths May 23 at Churchill at a mile and an eighth on the grass.