Chunk of Gold, Immersive highlight stakes quartet at Churchill Downs

West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Chunk of Gold heads eight runners in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight, and two-year-old filly champion Immersive leads seven fillies in the $175,000 Seneca Overnight as Churchill Downs offers a quartet of stakes for three-year-olds Saturday.

Runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Risen Star (G2), Chunk of Gold bounced back from a ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), recording a runner-up in the Ohio Derby prior to a stylish 4 1/4-length tally in the West Virginia Derby. The Ethan West-trained gray colt displayed surprising speed last time, setting the pace for the first time in a seven-race career, and Jareth Loveberry retains the assignment aboard the 8-5 morning line favorite.

His rivals in the 1 3/16-mile event include Delaware Derby winner Admiral Dennis, who will seek to rebound after finishing third as the favorite in the Ellis Park Derby; and West Virginia Derby and Indiana Derby (G3) third-placer Brotha Keny.

Unbeaten from four starts last year, Immersive missed the first half of her sophomore campaign, returning this summer with a pair of runner-up finishes versus stakes rivals, and she will look to return to the winner’s circle in the 1 1/16-mile Seneca Overnight. Florent Geroux picks up the mount aboard the daughter of Nyquist for Brad Cox, and Immersive is listed as the early 6-5 choice.

Iowa Oaks winner Quickick and multiple stakes-placed Liam in the Dust are also part of the mix.

The lone graded race, the $300,000 Dogwood (G3), will feature eight fillies over seven furlongs, and top contenders include Test (G1) runner-up Ragtime, Victory Ride (G3) winner Echo Sound, and Prioress (G3) runner-up Delightful Claire.  

Amsterdam (G2) victor Smoken Wicked, Ellis Park Derby runner-up Jimmy’s Dailys, and last-out maiden romper Semper Primus highlight a field of six entered for the $300,000 Harrods Creek at seven furlongs.