Original Sin Gets Jump on Rivals, Grabs Blame Stakes

The May 30 Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs was a tale of two trips. Or three. While Original Sin enjoyed a smooth journey in the $290,000 stakes race by chasing longshot leader Liberal Arts, favored Hit Show was blocked in traffic late on the second turn and into the stretch. Second choice Hall of Fame also was compromised, spotting the field a few lengths after breaking slowly. So third favorite Original Sin and jockey Tyler Gaffalione took advantage—keeping the leader in range, getting the jump on the late runners, and stubbornly turning back Who Dey for a half-length victory. Hit Show, not able to secure running room until midstretch, rallied for third. The 1-2-3 finishers are all gray and/or roan horses. Original Sin ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.39 following splits of :23.64 and :47.58 set by Liberal Arts. Original Sin took command with 6 furlongs in 1:12.21 and a mile in 1:37.04. Capital Idea, Liberal Arts, Hall of Fame, and Rattle N Roll completed the order of finish. Saturday's victory was the first stakes attempt for Calumet Farm's Original Sin, whose seven prior starts had come in either the maiden or allowance ranks. He improved to 3-for-4 this year, a record that includes a first-level allowance win at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in January, and a second-level allowance optional claiming win at Keeneland last month. "He ran great," trainer Brendan Walsh said. "He's been improving all year. I was surprised how close he was today. I mean, we knew there wasn't as much pace in there as there has been in his previous races. But he ran a great race at Keeneland the last time. He was sitting on a big race." That form left bettors to view him as a contender in the Blame, backing him to 5-1 odds in a race that featured two existing top-level stakes winners in 2025 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show and 2021 Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Rattle N Roll. Original Sin paid $12.84 for a $2 win wager. "He kind of made the lead a little early," Gaffalione said of his mount. "He started waiting around a little bit, but as soon as those horses came to him, he engaged and found another gear." The winner, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, is a son of Curlin out of the Unbridled's Song mare Beauty and Light. He is his dam's second stakes winner. Discussing training for Calumet Farm, Walsh said, "They're great clients of mine. We've had horses with them for a few years now. We've gradually gotten more and more; obviously we have (grade 1 winner) Gin Gin. This horse has come along. He's been improving. "They have very good pedigrees, a lot of these horses, and threaten to do things like this. So congratulations to them." Original Sin became the fourth graded stakes winner of 2026 for Curlin—a group that includes Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo. He stood for $225,000 earlier this year at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky before being shelved for the season in April after experiencing fertility issues. The Blame served as a local prep for the June 27 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs—a $2 million race that could lure Sovereignty, White Abarrio, Baeza, and Skippylongstocking, among others.