Bridle a Butterfly, Honor Marie Win Stakes at Churchill

Rallying widest of all, Glen Hill Farm's homebred Bridle a Butterfly posted a half-length victory over Out On Bail to win the $290,000 William Walker Stakes April 30 at Churchill Downs. The win, accomplished in stakes record time, gave the 3-year-old gelding's sire—2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Country House—his first stakes winner. Country House, a second-crop sire, stands at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington for a 2025 fee of $5,000. Favored Governor Sam, most recently third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, set the pace while under pressure from Makeit to Cheyenne, with Out On Bail a ground-saving third. At the top of the stretch, Governor Sam disposed of Makeit to Cheyenne while Out On Bail took up the chase to his outside. Out On Bail pushed past Governor Sam, only to have Bridle a Butterfly surge past in the final yards. Ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Al Stall Jr., Bridle a Butterfly completed the 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:01.76. "A regular sprinter, one that goes :22 and :45, that kind is easy. But a closing sprinter, you've got to figure it out," said the winning trainer. "We experimented some with this horse, and now I think we have got it. We put (John Velazquez) up, and of course, that helped. (Bridle a Butterfly) had worked well the other day, and he ran good today. I think we've got it now." Kentucky-bred Bridle a Butterfly returned $20.22 for a $2 win bet. It was his second win from six starts and improved his earnings to $257,593. Country House earned more than $2.1 million in his seven-race career. Bred by the late Joseph V. Shields and campaigned by Shields' widow, Maury, his nephew Guinness McFadden of Blackwood Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods, Country House was trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. He won the Derby via the disqualification of Maximum Security. By multiple champion and classic winner Lookin At Lucky, Country House is a half-brother to grade 3 winner Mitchell Road. Honor Marie Back in Winner's Circle One race prior to the William Walker, Ribble Farms and K E M Racing Stable's Honor Marie held off Timeout by a diminishing head to capture the $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes for 4-year-olds and up. Honor Marie, who finished a troubled eighth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), swept to the lead midstretch and held off a late bid from Timeout. Trained by Whit Beckman and ridden by Ben Curtis, Honor Marie completed 1 1/2 miles on a fast main track in 2:30.56. He paid $13.60 on a $2 win bet. Honor Marie's three career wins—all coming at Churchill Downs—include the 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).