Favorites & Longshots Battle in Commonwealth Turf

Churchill Downs presents a diverse field for Saturday’s GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes, the final age-restricted grass contest on the 2025 Kentucky circuit.

Donamire Farm’s Troubleshooting enters as the 7-2 morning-line favorite following his victory in the GIII Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 25. The Not This Time colt, who previously captured the GI Franklin-Simpson Stakes, has found his niche on turf with six trifecta finishes in seven starts after struggling on dirt early in his career. The homebred’s recent form includes a win in the July 4 Dade Park Dash at Ellis and a narrow defeat in Henderson allowance company before his Kentucky Downs triumph.

Giocoso, also by Not This Time, brings strong credentials after defeating Simulate (Blame) in the GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial in August. The dark bay subsequently finished second in Kentucky Downs’ Gun Runner Stakes on Sept. 6 behind Plensa (Caravaggio) before encountering trouble when third in the Bryan Station.

Montadore (Nyquist) has shown particular affinity for the Matt Winn turf course, having won a nine-furlong allowance by two lengths less than three weeks ago. His grass record would be nearly perfect if not for a disqualification in his turf debut in Virginia on July 24.

Mansetti (Collected) brings classic credentials after upsetting the Aug. 16 King’s Plate and narrowly missing in the Sept. 9 Prince of Wales Stakes. He most recently finished second in the GIII Ontario Derby on Oct. 18. While his female family suggests turf potential, the race flow may prove challenging.

For value seekers, Three Diamonds Farm’s Anegada (Midshipman) merits consideration after overcoming a troubled trip in the Secretariat. The gelding rebounded impressively in the Oct. 5 Hawthorne Derby, capitalizing on honest fractions to win by a half-length.

Outrunner (American Pharoah) has maintained consistent turf form through five starts, including a second-place finish in the Tale of the Cat Stakes in June and a third behind Grade I winner World Beater in the GIII Old Dominion Derby at Colonial on Sept. 6.

At Del Mar, Saturday’s GIII Native Diver Stakes features Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) as the dominant 3-5 morning-line choice. Despite finishing a distant seventh in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, the dark bay brings impressive credentials with decisive victories in the Los Alamitos Derby in June and the GI Goodwood Stakes on Sept. 27.

Indispensable (Constitution) stands as the primary challenger after finishing fourth in the GI Pacific Classic in August and third in Churchill’s one-turn mile GIII Ack Ack Stakes on Sept. 27.

Aqueduct hosts Sunday’s rescheduled GIII Pebbles Stakes, featuring Fast Market (Volatile). The $350,000 OBS June graduate required nine attempts to break her maiden, which she accomplished emphatically by 2 1/4 lengths in a one-mile contest on Sept. 21. She nearly captured the GII Sands Point Stakes on Oct. 18 and draws the rail with Flavien Prat aboard.

Sweet Treasure gives Twirling Candy a strong chance for another graded stakes winner following Fionn’s GIII Jockey Club Oaks triumph last weekend. After returning from an 11-month layoff with a fifth-place finish in Churchill allowance company on Sept. 27, she showed improvement with a convincing two-length victory at the same venue on Halloween. Florent Geroux will need to navigate a trip from an outside post position.