Churchill Downs Update: Week in Review -- 12 Straight for Kerness K, Miracle Ball Makes It Seven in a Row, Derby City 6 Hit for $271,257

Nov 15, 2026

With one card left in the racing week at Churchill Downs, here’s a look back at the highlights since Wednesday, including the 28th Claiming Crown on Saturday, when Kerness K won his 12th straight race, Miracle Ball made it seven in a row and the Derby City 6 Jackpot paid the entire pool of $271,257.

KERNESS K MAKES IT 12
North America’s winningest Thoroughbred of 2026 added to his lead Saturday when Kerness K rallied from eighth under Martin Chuan to beat Delta Tau Chi by 2 ¾ lengths in the $103,850 Claiming Crown Ready’s Rocket Express. The 4-year-old son of Great Notion ran six furlongs in 1:10.55 and earned a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.
The win was trainer Jamie Ness’ first at Churchill Downs. Ness, whose Jagger Inc. owns Kerness K with Morris Kernan Jr., claimed the gelding back for $7,500 in the March 13 race at Laurel Park that began the streak.
MIRACLE BALL MAKES IT SEVEN
Rocket Wrench Racing’s Miracle Ball led throughout the $109,660 Claiming Crown Empress under Luis Saez and held off favored Talkin in Cursive by three-quarters of a length for her seventh straight win. The 5-year-old mare covered six furlongs in 1:10.64 and earned an 89 Brisnet Speed Rating, two points shy of her career best that was earned on July 8, 2025 at Del Mar.
Miracle Ball, a daughter of Competitive Edge out of Cotton Ball, was delivered by cesarean section, which helped inspire her name. Trainer Ruben Fuentes claimed her for Justin Revak’s Rocket Wrench Racing at Turf Paradise on May 2.
GROVELAND WINS JEWEL, ECHO SOUND TAKES DREAM SUPREME
HRH Racing and Eddie Kenneally’s Groveland, claimed for $30,000 last November, won the $219,750 Claiming Crown Jewel by 3 ¼ lengths over Expect the Best. Francisco Arrieta took over from pacesetter Indy Charges On turning for home and drew clear aboard the 6-year-old Street Sense gelding, who earned a 98 Brisnet Speed Rating, one point shy of when he finished eighth in the 2023 Oklahoma Derby (GIII).
Earlier Saturday, Gabriel “Spider” Duignan’s Echo Sound held off Justinqueso by a neck in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) for her fifth career stakes victory. Saez rode the 4-year-old filly for Rusty Arnold II. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.28 and earned a 92 Brisnet Speed Rating.
FIVE 2-YEAR-OLDS GRADUATE ON DIRT
Godolphin’s homebred Belzoni won Wednesday’s $120,000 maiden special weight by 1 ¼ lengths over first-time starter Torcello after finishing second at Keeneland in his prior start. The Gun Runner colt, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, ran a mile in 1:35.58 and earned a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Two other juveniles won restricted $92,000 maiden special weights Wednesday. Calumet Farm’s Charging Force, trained by Dale Romans, led throughout a mile in 1:37.26 and held off Moycullen by a head under Martin Garcia for an 80 Brisnet Speed Rating. Double Arrow, trained by Robertino Diodoro, drew off by 4 ¼ lengths under Cristian Torres, running 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.56 for an 89 Brisnet Speed Rating.
Saez won $120,000 maiden special weights on consecutive days with first-time starters. Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s I Like to Party, a Life Is Good colt trained by Brian Lynch, held off Drain the Bourbon by a head Thursday and earned an 81 Brisnet Speed Rating. C R K Stable’s It’s the Law, a Tiz the Law filly trained by Peter Eurton, fought back to beat Seaton Springs by a head Friday while running six furlongs in 1:11.12 over a muddy track for an 85 Brisnet Speed Rating.
COX REACHES 3,000
Louisville native Brad Cox recorded his 3,000th career win in North America on Friday when Godolphin’s 2-year-old filly Very Clever won the opener at Belmont Park. Cox added a win at Churchill Downs later that day when Hoops Rivalry returned from nearly 14 months away to take the finale under Saez.
Cox won his first race on Dec. 4, 2004 and it took him nearly 14 years to record 1,000 wins. He tallied his next 2,000 wins in just under eight years.
KALAHARI DREAMS WINS OFF THE TURF
In Friday’s $134,000 allowance optional claimer, Rigney Racing’s Kalahari Dreams drew in from the also-eligible list when the race came off the turf. The 4-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Country House, trained by Phil Bauer, beat Noises Off by 1 ½ lengths under Junior Alvarado while running a mile in 1:35.77 over a muddy track for a 91 Brisnet Speed Rating.
WAGERING NOTES
Saturday’s 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot paid $271,257 when Magical Ways ($71.54) got up to win the Claiming Crown Emerald. The sequence began in Race 7 with Metatron’s Muse ($14.60) and continued with Miracle Ball ($8.12), Shape Note ($5.98), Air of Defiance ($11.90) and Groveland ($17.18).
Three of Saturday’s four 50-cent Pick 5s paid more than $36,000. The largest was $67,138 in Races 5-9, a sequence that included Stay Beautiful’s 79-1 upset in the $109,933 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper. The filly, owned and trained by Yoni Orantes and ridden by Albin Jimenez, beat favored Coquito by three lengths and returned $160.46.
The 50-cent Pick 5 paid an average of $14,821 across 14 sequences from Wednesday through Saturday. The four late Pick 5s averaged $18,148.
THANKSGIVING STAKES NOMINATIONS
Nominations closed Wednesday for 10 stakes worth a combined $3.35 million from Thanksgiving Day through closing day, Sunday, Nov. 29. See the full stakes nominations on Equibase.
Thursday, Nov. 26 – The $300,000 Falls City (GIII) on dirt and the $300,000 Cardinal presented by Resolute Racing (Listed) on turf are both at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 3 and up. First post on Thanksgiving Day is 11:30 a.m. for the 12-race card.
Friday, Nov. 27 – The $700,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), the richest race of the Fall Meet, is at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds and up. Unbeaten Travers (GI) winner Leading Change, who’s being pointed to the Clark for Cox, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 Friday at Churchill Downs, the fastest of 26 works at the distance. The $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) is at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
Saturday, Nov. 28 – The 12-race Stars of Tomorrow II card is for 2-year-olds and includes the 100th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Golden Rod (GII) for fillies. Both are at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and award 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively. The $225,000 Ed Brown and the $225,000 Fern Creek (Listed) for fillies round out the four stakes for 2-year-olds. Both sprints are at 6 ½ furlongs on dirt.
Sunday, Nov. 29 – The $300,000 Chilukki (GIII) for fillies and mares 3 and up and the $250,000 Cherokee Mile for 3-year-olds and up close the Fall Meet stakes schedule. Both races are at one mile on dirt.
UP NEXT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, live racing resumes Wednesday for the first of 10 remaining days of the Fall Meet. Racing is scheduled Wednesday through Sunday, with daily first post at 1 p.m.
The $300,000 Commonwealth Turf (GIII) features nine 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course and goes as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. on Saturday’s 11-race card. C R K Stable’s Remember Mamba, second in the American Turf (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day, returns to Churchill Downs for trainer Cherie DeVaux with Jose Ortiz aboard.
Wednesday is Senior Day, when guests 60 and older can enjoy lunch and a day at the races on Millionaires Row for $50. Tickets are available by calling (502) 636-4450.