Racing

Kingsbarns Heads To Churchill Downs Following Ben Ali Victory

Spendthrift Farm’s Kingsbarns, the 3¼-length winner of Saturday’s Ben Ali (G3), was scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Sunday to join the expanding string of Todd Pletcher runners arriving in Louisville.

“We will see how he bounces back and discuss strategy with the Spendthrift team,” Pletcher said via text following the victory, which was the third in the race for the trainer.

Kingsbarns blew past War Campaign at the top of the stretch and was not threatened in the run to the finish line.

“It looked pretty good turning for home,” trainer Phil Sims said of War Campaign’s brief lead. “I thought he ran very good. He is good this morning, and we will look at our options. It will be a month, but he likes Churchill Downs so it will probably be something there.”