Last year was a banner year for a pair of Midwest Thoroughbreds homebreds, The Pizza Man and Work All Week.  The Pizza Man handled rises in class with aplomb, dethroning Dandino in the American St. Leger.  Work All Week became only the second Illinois-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race, winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on his way to an Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter.

Saturday’s Churchill Downs card features the six-year-old debuts of both of these horses.

Work All Week returns in the Grade III Aristides Stakes, facing six foes in an attempt to keep his dirt record unsullied.  Paul Mazur takes a detailed look at the Aristides.  The Pizza Man comes back in the Opening Verse Stakes, dialing back to 1 1/16 miles for the first time since last year’s Black Tie Affair Handicap against Illinois-breds almost a year ago.  I provide my selections and analysis for the Opening Verse.

Head on over to Picks and Ponderings, and get ready for the return of two tough and consistent Illinois-breds!