BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Marablue Farm and Pegasus Stud’s homebred Old Homestead will try to win the $100,000 Sam’s Town at Delta Downs for the second straight year Saturday night when he goes postward in the five-furlong test for nine 4-year-olds and older.

Trained by Brett Brinkman, the 7-year-old Florida-bred son of Overanalyze makes his first start since May when he finished off the board over a sloppy six furlongs in the $100,000 Speightstown at Lone Star Park. Along with a length-and-three-quarter triumph in last year’s Sam’s Town, the Speightstown was his only other appearance in 2025.

The multiple stakes-winning bay has won six of 13 races in his career with two seconds, including victories in the $342,000 Lafayette at Keeneland and the $99,000 Concern at Laurel Park, both in 2022.

An earner of $384,420, Old Homestead is out of Pearl de Vere, by Songandaprayer. 

Old Homestead is the 5-2 morning line favorite and will be ridden by Vicente Del-Cid from post one.

Second on the morning line at 7-2 is Champlin, who ships in from Fair Grounds for trainer Greg Foley.

Stakes-placed twice at Churchill Downs in 2024 with seconds in the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine and restricted St. Matthews, Champlin exits fifth against allowance horses going five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21. Two starts back, Champlin was third at the same distance on the Churchill Downs grass when facing allowance horses.

Champlin is by Ransom the Moon and has won four with three seconds and a third in 15 career starts with earnings of $389,007.

Mitchell Murrill has the mount on Champlin from post five.

Also entered are Go Captain with Alex Birzer aboard, Carlos Perez has the mount on The Donegal Clan, American Know How and jockey Thomas Pompell, Lane Luzzi rides Empire of Gold, Jansen Melancon will guide Devil’s Tower, Country Hit has Paulina Ramirez taking the assignment and Juan Vargas has the mount on Chad’s Flashy Ways.

Return to the January 14 issue of Wire to Wire