Study Guide: 2025 Blame Stakes

May 27, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Mystik Dan (rail) reaches the wire before Sierra Leone (outside) and Forever Young (middle) (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

A strong field, including 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan, is slated to race 1 1/8 miles over the Churchill Downs dirt in Saturday’s $275,000 Blame (G3).

Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the entries:

Katonah

Katona wins the San Pasqual at Santa Anita.(Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 20
Wins: 5
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: R3 Racing
Breeder: Haymarket Farm
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the San Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $490,180

Sire: Klimt
Dam: Ctimene
Color: Chestnut

Once in a while, Katonah steps up and runs a big race—in January, he took the San Pasqual (G2) at Santa Anita by two lengths. But he enters the Blame off three straight defeats by double-digit margins and will need a rebound to factor on Saturday.

Alexander Helios

Alexander Helios wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 16
Wins: 5
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: John and Diane Fradkin
Breeder: John Fradkin and Diane Fradkin
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (104) winning the Razorback H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $588,420

Sire: Cairo Prince
Dam: Cashmere
Color: Bay

Alexander Helios misfired when last seen in the Oaklawn H. (G2), finishing a distant fifth. But two starts ago, he battled to victory against a strong field in the Razorback H. (G3), earning a sharp 104 Brisnet Speed rating while counting Oaklawn H. winner First Mission among his beaten rivals. A return to that level of form could put Alexander Helios in contention for victory in the Blame.

Antiquarian

Antiquarian wins the Peter Pan S. (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Jpe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Centennial Farms
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (102) when winning the Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $260,000

Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Lifetime Memory
Color: Chestnut

Winner of the Peter Pan (G3) as a three-year-old last year, Antiquarian recently ended a long layoff with a 2 1/2-length triumph in a $62,500 allowance optional claimer sprinting seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He still has upside and shouldn’t be dismissed from consideration while returning to the graded stakes ranks in the Blame.

Mystik Dan

Mystik Dan (rail) reaches the wire before Sierra Leone (outside) and Forever Young (middle) (Photo by Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 12
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4G Racing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $4,250,860

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma’am
Color: Bay

Although Mystik Dan has gone winless in five starts since beating a strong field in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), he showed signs of returning to form in the Lake Ochita S. four weeks ago, finishing second by a nose against Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown. Perhaps returning to the site of his Kentucky Derby triumph will help Mystik Dan get back to the winner’s circle.

#3 Mystik Dan takes the 150th Kentucky Derby! #KentuckyDerby150 #KYDerby150

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/hYbi8AghlB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 4, 2024

Best Actor

Best Actor wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 14
Wins: 5
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Steve Moger
Breeder: E. H. Beau Lane, Gail McMichael Lane, J. B. Lane Orem, and Michael Orem
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr.
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning a Churchill Downs $150,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $676,615

Sire: Flatter
Dam: Abraqat
Color: Dark bay/brown

Best Actor has done some of his best work at Churchill Downs, but he hasn’t factored in two starts this season, most recently finishing eighth in the Knicks Go S. at Churchill. He’ll need a turnaround to challenge in the Blame.

Hall of Fame

Hall Of Fame wins the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.)

Start(s): 9
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Brook T. Smith
Breeder: Earle I. Mack
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (104) when finishing second in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $497,310

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Flag Day
Color: Chestnut

Hall of Fame has earned triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings when finishing second in the New Orleans Classic (G2) and third in the Alysheba (G2), his last two starts. He faced tough competition in those races and may appreciate dropping down to the Grade 3 level on Saturday. Three starts back, he battled to victory in the Mineshaft (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Most Wanted

Most Wanted wins the Ellis Park Derby at Ellis Park.(Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Gary and Mary West
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing second in the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $805,253

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Beach Walk
Color: Dark bay/brown

Last year’s Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner, Most Wanted, enters the Blame off runner-up finishes in the Clark (G2), Challenger (G3), and Alysheba (G2). He was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by champion Fierceness in the latter race, and the 105 Brisnet Speed rating he posted suggests Most Wanted is a win threat in the Blame.

Banishing

Banishing wins the Oaklawn Mile S. at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 19
Wins: 7
Place: 4
Show: 2

Owner: Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: David Jacobson
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (104) when finishing second in the Razorback H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $1,151,954

Sire: Ghostzapper
Dam: Dowager
Color: Chestnut

It’s hard to knock Banishing’s recent form. He’s posted four straight triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings while finishing second in the Razorback H. (G3), first in the Oaklawn Mile (G3), second in the Oaklawn H. (G2), and second in the Churchill Downs (G1). He’s a logical contender on Saturday, though you can make a case that the 1 1/8-mile

of the Blame might be slightly longer than

wants to run.

Post Time

Start(s): 16
Wins: 10
Place: 3
Show: 3

Owner: Hillwood Stable
Breeder: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman, and Milton P. Higgins
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning a $55,000 allowance optional claimer at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $1,266,550

Sire: Frosted
Dam: Vielsalm
Color: Gray/roan

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) runner-up Post Time has placed a few times at the Grade 1 level. He exits a 13 1/4-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile $55,000 allowance optional claimer at Laurel Park, for which he earned a powerful 107 Brisnet Speed rating. But Post Time is another runner who might be better racing a bit shorter than 1 1/8 miles.

Tennessee Lamb

Tennessee Lamb wins the Ben Ali S. at Churchill Downs.(Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 11
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Rusty Arnold
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a $25,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $381,351

Sire: Tonalist
Dam: Tennessee Whiskey
Color: Bay

Tennessee Lamb enters the Blame in hot form, having won a $25,000 allowance optional claimer and the Ben Ali (G3) in succession. But his career-best 93 Brisnet Speed rating looks a bit light against Saturday’s field.