Prayers answered: Church and State surges to King Corrie score
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TORONTO, May 18, 2025– Church and State, under Rafael Hernandez, powered home to take the $100,000 King Corrie Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
Leaving from the rail post, Hibiscus bloomed early and went to the lead in the seven-furlong main track event for 3-year-olds, followed closely by stablemate Madame Obey and Incoming, while Church and State, trained by Dale Desruisseaux, settled into last of six through an opening quarter in :23.41.
Hibiscus continued to show the way after a half in :45.51 as Incoming remained a presence to the outside of the leader. Church and State, now fifth, was hemmed along the inside heading into the turn for home, as Hernandez looked for a seam to open.
In a move reminiscent of Umberto Rispoli bulling his way between foes with Journalism in yesterday’s Preakness Stakes, Hernandez and the grey gelding also found a narrow opening between a pair of rivals but were still left with plenty of work to do to catch Hibiscus and Incoming, who had dashed away from the pack.
Third at the stretch call, Church and State, who momentarily turned his head towards the grandstand, hit his best stride in the final yards and went on to notch a half-length victory. Incoming was second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Hibiscus. Madame Obey was fourth.
The final time was 1:22.71.
“He [Dale] had the horse fit for this race,” said Hernandez.. “He [Church and State] is so special. He kept going after the wire when we were galloping out. We’re going to be good with this horse.”
Owned by Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc., Church and State posted a pair of wins to launch his career in the latter stages of 2024.
In his career bow, a seven-furlong main track race on November 15 at Woodbine, he came from second-last of 11 to secure a 2 ½-length victory at 9-1. Three weeks later, on December 6, he recorded a one-length triumph at one mile and 70 yards over the same course.
Fourth in the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway Park in January, Church and State was slated to run in the Woodstock Stakes on Apr. 27 at Woodbine but was scratched on the day of the race with a virus.
Today, he was at the top of his game.
“I was probably saying a few choice words at the half-mile pole, but Raffi found his way through, and he kicked on,” said Desruisseaux. “He’s kind of like a giraffe – he is a really narrow, long-necked kind of horse.”
A $15,000 (USD) purchase at the Keeneland Association January 2023 Horses of All Ages sale, Church and State was bred in Kentucky by DP Racing, LLC.
A son of Caravaggio out of the Vindication mare Full Snow Moon, he paid $5.80 for the King Corrie win.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
