Undefeated Crude Velocity and Englishman Set for Showdown in Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs

Key facts

• Crude Velocity, trained by Bob Baffert, is 2-for-2 with a 116 Equibase Speed Figure in his last start.
• Englishman, trained by Cherie DeVaux, has won both career starts by more than 7 lengths.
• The Pat Day Mile (G2) has a purse of $750,000 and post time 3:23 p.m. ET on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
• One More Freud is the third undefeated colt in the field, making his 2026 debut after a Sapling Stakes win.
• Trouble Calling won the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland on April 3 by a head.
• Creole Chrome finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
• Great White is cross-entered in the Kentucky Derby but is expected to run in the Pat Day Mile.
• Florent Geroux rides Crude Velocity from post 6; Jose Ortiz rides Englishman from the rail.

A Clash of Unbeaten Three-Year-Olds

Two undefeated three-year-old colts will meet in the starting gate for the $750,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, with a possible berth in the Preakness Stakes hanging in the balance. Crude Velocity, trained by Bob Baffert and owned by CSLR Racing Partners, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, just ahead of Englishman at 3-1. Both horses are 2-for-2 in their careers, setting up a high-stakes showdown that could define the early trajectory of the three-year-old division.

Crude Velocity’s Impressive Speed Figures

Crude Velocity, a son of Beau Liam, broke his maiden by a neck in March at Santa Anita Park before dominating a $50,000 allowance optional claimer by 6 3/4 lengths. In that last outing, he earned a 116 Equibase Speed Figure after chasing blistering opening fractions of:22.16 and:44.48. Since that win, he posted a bullet workout of six furlongs in 1:11 on April 24 at Santa Anita. Florent Geroux, who has ridden the colt in both victories, will be aboard from post 6.

Englishman’s Gate-to-Wire Dominance

Englishman, a son of Maxfield trained by Cherie DeVaux, has won both starts in near gate-to-wire fashion by more than seven lengths. He debuted at Churchill Downs in September, winning a seven-furlong race by 7 1/4 lengths, and followed with a 7 1/2-length victory in a six-furlong allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Purchased by Mayberry Farm for $400,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Englishman will break from the rail under jockey Jose Ortiz. Maxfield, a second-crop sire, has two black-type winners this year but is still seeking his first graded stakes winner.

The Third Undefeated Colt and Other Contenders

One More Freud, a son of Tonalist, is the third undefeated runner in the field, making his 2026 debut after winning the Sapling Stakes by a neck last year. He broke his maiden by 14 1/2 lengths at Saratoga Race Course in August for trainer Tom Amoss, was claimed, and then won the Sapling for trainer Mike Maker. Now with trainer Robert Hess Jr., the colt has been working steadily at Keeneland, including a bullet five-furlong workout in 1:00 4/5 on April 15. Trouble Calling, a homebred for Donamire Farm, takes his first shot at graded company after winning the seven-furlong Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland by a head on April 3. Trained by Greg Foley, he broke his maiden by 6 1/4 lengths on February 14 at Fair Grounds. Creole Chrome, a son of Volatile trained by Joe Sharp, finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 8. Great White, also a son of Volatile, is cross-entered in the Kentucky Derby but is expected to run in the Pat Day Mile after drawing into the main body of the Derby field as the first also-eligible following the scratch of Silent Tactic.

Expert Analysis and Betting Implications

SportsLine racing analyst Michelle Yu, a well-connected insider with a track record of successful picks, has released her selections for the Pat Day Mile. Yu, who correctly predicted Medina Spirit’s 12-1 win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby and hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, has identified a horse with “loads of talent” as her top pick. She is including that horse in her betting strategy, which is available to SportsLine subscribers. The race, which has a post time of 3:23 p.m. ET, features 11 entrants, with Trouble Calling (5-1), Crown the Buckeye (6-1), and Creole Chrome (8-1) rounding out the top five choices in the morning line.

What the Winner Could Mean for the Preakness

The Pat Day Mile serves as a potential stepping stone to the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, scheduled for May 16 at Pimlico Race Course. A decisive victory by either Crude Velocity or Englishman could propel them into the Preakness field, adding intrigue to a division still searching for a clear leader. For Baffert, who has won the Preakness a record eight times, a strong showing would reinforce his colt’s credentials. For DeVaux, a win would mark a significant milestone in her career and establish Englishman as a serious contender on the national stage.

A Race That Could Shape the Season

With three undefeated colts and several stakes winners in the field, the Pat Day Mile offers a glimpse into the depth of the three-year-old crop. The race’s outcome will not only affect the immediate futures of the participants but also provide clues about the broader landscape of American racing. As the horses load into the gate, the question lingers: which undefeated star will remain perfect, and which will take the first step toward Triple Crown glory?

The bottom line

• Crude Velocity and Englishman, both undefeated, headline a competitive Pat Day Mile field that includes a third undefeated colt, One More Freud.
• Crude Velocity posted a 116 Equibase Speed Figure in his last win and has a bullet workout since.
• Englishman has won both starts by more than seven lengths in gate-to-wire fashion.
• The race carries a $750,000 purse and could serve as a prep for the Preakness Stakes.
• Michelle Yu, a top handicapper, has released picks that include a horse she calls 'loads of talent.'
• The outcome will clarify the pecking order among three-year-olds and shape the Triple Crown narrative.