Churchill Downs start (Renee Torbit/Coady Media)
$3.2 million purchase Barnes entered next wednesday for Zedan Racing Stables, Baffert
Churchill Downs Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thanksgiving week at Churchill Downs offers a thrilling conclusion to the Fall Meet with nine stakes races boasting $3.1 million in purses. The action is headlined by the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) on Black Friday, Nov. 29, which provides top-level horses a prime opportunity to end their year on a high note.
Other highlights include the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and $400,000 Golden Rod (GII) – key Prep Season races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively – along with the $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies on turf and the $400,000 Falls City (GII) for fillies and mares on Thanksgiving Day.
Here’s a look at some of the known contenders for each of the stakes:
Thursday, Nov. 28
$400,000 Falls City (GII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles:
Lexa (Whit Beckman)
Musical Mischief (Michael McCarthy)
Tarifa (Brad Cox)$300,000 Cardinal (GIII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf:
Duvet Day (IRE) (Michael McCarthy)Friday, Nov. 29
$600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles:
Cooke Creek (Mike Maker)
Hit Show (Brad Cox)
Most Wanted (Brad Cox)
Rattle N Roll (Kenny McPeek)$300,000 Mrs. Revere (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf:
Kathrynmarissa (Rick Dutrow Jr.)
Kehoe Beach (Wesley Ward)Saturday, Nov. 30
$400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles:
Clock Tower (Wesley Ward)
Filoso (Chad Summers)
First Resort (Eoin Harty)
Jonathan’s Way (Phil Bauer)$400,000 Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles:
Flash Wear (Tommy Vance)
My Lil Punky (John Ennis)$225,000 Ed Brown for 2-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs:
Lil Muggs (Greg Foley)$225,000 Fern Creek for 2-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs:
Book’em Danno (Bret Calhoun)Sunday, Dec. 1
$250,000 Cherokee Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile:
Injunction (Doug Cowans)
Several top local trainers, like Brad Cox, have stated that they will work their possible stakes contenders this week before making a final decision on race placement.
$3.2 Million Purchase Barnes Entered Next Wednesday For Zedan Racing Stables, Baffert
Zedan Racing Stables’ $3.2 million unraced 2-year-old colt, Barnes, is set to make his debut next Wednesday at Churchill Downs in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight contest for trainer Bob Baffert. This would mark Baffert’s first start beneath the Twin Spires since the end of his three-year suspension by Churchill Downs Incorporated in 2021.
Named in honor of Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes, the highly regarded Into Mischief colt is slated to break from post No. 3 under jockey Martin Garcia. Carded as Race 7 at 3:55 p.m., the race drew a field of 11 juveniles.
Barnes, unnamed at the time of the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, he closed as the 39-1 ninth betting choice in the field of 40.
Barnes is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday along with stablemate Nooni.
DOWN THE STRETCH … … ….. ………
Racing resumed Wednesday at Churchill Downs for the start of another five-day week with daily first posts of 1 p.m. The main track was listed as “good” during training hours but was expected to be “fast” by first post. Race 4 began the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot which stood at $128,612. …
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione took off his mounts Wednesday after recovering from a spill Saturday. The 30-year-old rider plans to be back in the saddle Thursday. …
TwinSpires will host a $1,000 qualifier to the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge/National Handicapping Championship on Saturday. The contest will award seats to both contests plus cash prizes. For more information, visitwww.twinspires.com/tournaments. …
For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
