Churchill Downs Stakes Advance: Past Two Roxelana Winners Set to Square Off in Saturday's Meet Opening-Day Showcase

Apr 20, 2026

Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Zeitlos, winner of the 2024 Roxelana (Listed) presented by LG&E KU, and Summerhill Stables’ Mink’s Palace, winner of last year’s renewal, headline a field of eight fillies and mares entered Monday for Saturday’s 16th running of the $200,000 race.

To be run at six furlongs over the main track, the Roxelana headlines a 10-race opening-day program for the 44-day Spring Meet. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern), with the Roxelana going as the ninth race with a 5:46 p.m. post time.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Zeitlos has won four of seven starts at Churchill Downs and returned from a nearly five-month layoff to run fourth in Matron (Listed) at Oaklawn Park on March 27 to kick off her 6-year-old campaign. Jose Ortiz has the mount from post No. 6.

Mink’s Palace, also a four-time winner at Churchill Downs, will be making her 2026 debut for trainer Eddie Kenneally. In seeking to become the first two-time winner of the Roxelana, Mink’s Palace will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 3.

Expected to challenge the returning winners for favoritism is Jay Em Ess Stable’s Lotsandlotsofcandy for trainer Paul McGee. A winner of two of three Churchill Downs starts and back on her preferred surface, Lotsandlotsofcandy will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 4.

The field for the Roxelana from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

One Magic Philly (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh)
Jersey Pearl (Luan Machado, Darrin Miller)
Mink’s Palace (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally)
Lotsandlotsofcandy (Hernandez, McGee)
Lucille Ball (Axel Concepcion, Chris Englehart)
Zeitlos (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen)
Vincey Girl (Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose D’Angelo)
Asternia (Joel Rosario, Randy Morse)