Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance, a $575,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by owners Robert Baker and William Mack, finished second in his debut at Churchill Downs on June 15, 2017. Shipped to Saratoga for his next start, he drew clear to win by 2 ¼ lengths on July 22.

Sporting Chance then was entered in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes going seven furlongs on Labor Day, the closing card of Saratoga’s meet. After settling into a good staking trip behind early leader National Flag, Sporting Chance took command at the top of the stretch and appeared to be en route to an easy victory under Luis Saez. The Tiznow colt ducked out sharply into the center of the stretch in the final yards but still managed to hold on and win by a neck over Free Drop Billy.

Sporting Chance did not race again for over five months, returning to make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19. In that prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, he endured a rough stretch run when bumped but still ran on to finish third, earning two qualifying points for the Derby. In his final prep for the Kentucky Derby in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Sporting Chance was in contention in deep stretch but ducked in near the sixteenth pole before veering out into the path of Free Drop Billy. He held on for third but subsequently was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Sporting Chance missed out on the Kentucky Derby, but he ran on the first Saturday in May in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile Stakes and ran fourth on the sloppy main track.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Sporting Chance is out of the stakes-winning Candy Ride mare Wynning Ride.