Trainer Brad Cox comes into the May 1 $700,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs with the morning line favorite On Time Girl and a longshot Paradise. Run at 7 furlongs on the dirt, the race is named after the late filly Eight Belles, who was a valiant second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1).
On Time Girl, owned and bred by Albaugh Family Stables, was the winner of the Jan. 31 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, run at 7 furlongs, a race that carries 20 Kentucky Oaks (G1) points to the victor. The daughter of Not This Time entered the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) Feb. 28, where she finished a distant third behind She Be Smooth and My Miss Mo. Earning 15 Oaks points for that effort, On Time Girl sat on the leaderboard with a total of 35 points. While she could have entered the Kentucky Oaks, as she was ahead of Lovely Grey, who has recently drawn into the race off the also-eligible list, her connections decided to keep her at 7 furlongs, a distance at which she has been victorious.
Until the morning the Kentucky Oaks was set to be drawn, Paradise remained a member of the field, but Cox opted for the Eight Belles when entries came around. The 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner broke her maiden and won the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack at a mile distance. She then entered the 1 1/8 miles Gazelle Stakes (G3), where she was a distant third place as the post-time favorite. Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, Paradise is a 15-1 longshot in the Eight Belles.
Along with Cox's two entrants, Michael Stidham and Lael Stables, Luv Your Neighbor will also run in the Eight Belles, even after earning 65 points towards the Kentucky Oaks. Her points came from second-place finishes in the Silverbulletday Stakes and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), and a third-place finish in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), all at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Her only career win came at the 7 furlong distance, scoring in her maiden first out, Sep. 10 at Colonial Downs.
They will face stiff competition in the field of nine, including the Steve Asmussen trainee Goodall. Slated as the 3-1 second choice in the betting pools, the daughter of Yaupon will be stretching out past 6 furlongs for the first time in her short career. Owned by Spendthrift Farm, she broke her maiden on her second attempt Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds, before wheeling back in the March 14 Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park, where she won by 4 1/2 lengths.
The Eight Belles is on a jam-packed May 1 card at Churchill Downs, which is highlighted by the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks.
Entries: Eight Belles S. presented by Sysco (G2)
Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, Race 8
- Grade II
- 7f
- Dirt
- $700,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 4:30 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Front Runnin (KY) | Edgar Morales | 118 | Chasey Deville Pomier | 50/1 |
| 2 | 2French Friction (KY) | Cristian A. Torres | 118 | Mark E. Casse | 6/1 |
| 3 | 3River Wind (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | 118 | Norm W. Casse | 4/1 |
| 4 | 4Paradise (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 118 | Brad H. Cox | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Solemn Vow (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 118 | Albert M. Stall, Jr. | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6Sippin Pretty (KY) | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | 118 | Ian R. Wilkes | 8/1 |
| 7 | 7Luv Your Neighbor (ON) | Luis Saez | 118 | Michael Stidham | 6/1 |
| 8 | 8Goodall (KY) | Flavien Prat | 118 | Steven M. Asmussen | 3/1 |
| 9 | 9On Time Girl (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 120 | Brad H. Cox | 5/2 |
