First All-Night Racing Weekend, Topped by Saturday's Downs After Dark, Closes Spring Meet
The complexion of the three racing sessions that comprise the final racing days of Churchill Downs’ 38-day Spring Meet changed drastically in recent days as record heat pushed into the Ohio Valley, but the centerpiece of the meet’s farewell weekend – the return of the popular “White Party” for the final Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka night racin
Turallure Tops Closing Night Firecracker Handicap
Four D Stables’ homebred Turallure, who was narrowly defeated by Court Vision in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade I) beneath the Twin Spires, will carry the top weight of 122 pounds when he faces five rivals in the 22nd running of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Romans Bids for Sweep of Trio of Closing Weekend Stakes
ROMANS BIDS FOR CLOSING WEEKEND STAKES SWEEP TO CAP SPRING MEET – Trainer Dale Romans has enjoyed a strong Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and he has the opportunity to end the meet in style by sweeping the three stakes races carded for this weekend.
Simms' Circle Unbroken, Asmussen's Special Jo Head Bashford Manor After Dark
Veteran trainer Garry Simms, who saddled Blueeyesintherein to win last Saturday’s Debutante (Grade III), will try to become just the fifth trainer to sweep the Spring Meet’s pair of graded stakes races for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs when he sends Travis Morgeson V LLC’s Circle Unbroken into Saturday’s $100,000-added Bashfor
Record Heat Prompts Churchill Downs to Shift to Night Racing Schedule on Friday and Sunday
Churchill Downs officials will adjust their post times and race exclusively in the evening for the final three days of its 138th Spring Meet due to looming near-record triple-digit heat in the forecast for Louisville. The first race on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Forecast of Triple-Digit Heat Prompts Cancellation of Thursday, June 28 Racing
With weather forecasts calling for near-record triple-digit heat, officials at Churchill Downs Racetrack have decided to cancel the track’s live racing program scheduled for Thursday, June 28.
Positively Works Bullet Three-Eighths in Prep for Saturday's Bashford Manor
Chuck and Maribeth Sandford LLC’s Positively, a recent maiden winner at Churchill Downs, drilled a bullet three furlongs beneath the Twin Spires in :35.20 Sunday morning for trainer Pat Byrne in his last major training move prior to Saturday’s $100,000-added Bashford Manor (Grade III).
Blueeyesintherein Gives Simms Back-to-Back Debutantes
Blueeyesintherein circled around horses on the far turn and powered clear in the stretch to win Saturday’s 112th running of the Grade III, $112,200 Debutante at Churchill Downs by 2 ½ lengths over Quiet Success.
Dullahan Gets Back to Work, Will Point to Haskell
Donegal Racing’s Dullahan appeared on the Churchill Downs work tab on Saturday for the first time since his seventh-place finish in the $1 million Belmont (Grade I) and trainer Dale Romans said the son of Even the Score would run next in Monmouth Park’s $1 million Haskell Invitational (GI) on July 29.
Morrison's Shesakitty Seeks First Win in Saturday's Debutante
Not many horses record their first win in a graded-stakes race, but trainer Lon Wiggins believes Shesakitty could do just that in Saturday’s $100,000-added Debutante (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
Simms Hopes to Continue 'Miracle' Meet in Debutante
Trainer Garry Simms won last year’s running of the Debutante (GIII) at Churchill Downs with Flashy Lassie and he will attempt to repeat in the first graded stakes event in North America for 2-year-old fillies with Barry King and Dorothy Self’s Blueeyesintherein, the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
Blueeyesintherein Could Give Simms Second Consecutive Debutante
Veteran trainer Garry Simms will bid for rare back-to-back wins in the $100,000-added Debutante Stakes (GIII) when he saddles Dorothy Sell and Barry L.
Young Stars, Music, Family Fun Headline Next-to-Last Spring Meet Weekend
Only two weekends of racing remain in the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, and the next-to-last weekend of racing beneath the Twin Spires features a look at racing’s future stars in the historic Debutante Stakes, terrific live music and another Sunday of Family Fun activities presented by Kroger.
Humana Distaff Winner Groupie Doll Returns to Churchill Downs
Groupie Doll has resumed training at Churchill Downs following a brief vacation at trainer Buff Bradley’s Indian Ridge Farm in Frankfort after her record-breaking performance in the Humana Distaff (Grade I) beneath the Twin Spires on Kentucky Derby Day.
Ron the Greek Rallies for Grade I Stephen Foster Upset, Caps Huge Night for Mott Before 25,417
Ron the Greek, sixth in the early going, rallied along the rail in the stretch under jockey Jose Lezcano to grab the lead from heavily favored Wise Dan in the final strides to win the 31st running of the $437,200, Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap by a head before 25,417 ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing fans on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Champion Royal Delta Scores Jaw-Dropping Fleur de Lis Win
Besilu Stable’s Royal Delta, North America’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2011, returned to the scene of her greatest victory with a jaw-dropping, eight-length victory over Afleeting Lady in the $161,700 Fleur de Lis Handicap Presented by Finlandia Vodka on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Centre Court Wins 43rd Regret
Centre Court, the 3-2 favorite in the field of 11 3-year-old fillies, took the lead at the top of the Matt Winn Turf Course stretch and never surrendered her advantage, crossing the wire a length in front of Colonial Flag in the 43rd running of the $114,200 Regret (GIII) on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Neck 'n Neck Rolls to Matt Winn Triumph
A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Neck ‘n Neck ran away from the field in deep stretch to win Saturday’s $107,100 Matt Winn (Grade III) by a record 7 ¼ lengths over Stealcase. Macho Macho was a neck back in third, while Right to Vote, the 9-5 favorite finished fourth.
Heavily Favored Homerun Bertie Rolls in Feature
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Homerun Berti entered the stretch of the Matt Winn Turf Course with a clear advantage and continued to increase his lead from there to win the $54,704 Friday feature at Churchill Downs by a widening 3 ¼ lengths over City Cool.
Leggio Expects Big Run from St. John's River in Fleur de Lis
Dede McGehee’s St. John’s River has run well in her two notable starts at Churchill Downs, and trainer Andy Leggio Jr. expects another top effort over the Louisville track from the 4-year-old bay daughter of Include in Saturday night’s 37th running of the $150,000-added Fleur de Lis (Grade II).
