Renee Torbit/Coady Media
Stakes Action, Twilight Racing, Special Events Highlight Busy Week
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky – A full week of racing continues at Churchill Downs with Twilight Thursday, weekend stakes action and special events for military members and dads as the 43-day Spring Meet rolls on beneath the historic twin spires.
Only three weeks remain at the Spring Meet. Wednesday’s nine-race card got underway at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and included a massive $699,102 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that began in Race 4.
Twilight Thursday features an eight-race card beginning at 5 p.m., accompanied by $2 domestic beer, live music from Andrew Lee and local food trucks Black Rock Grille, Flavaville, Gringos and Spinelli’s Pizza. Thursday’s racing highlights include a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance in Race 1 that features recent maiden winner Stellify and Keertana Stakes third-place finisher Tarneema. In Race 7, five-time winner Cat On Time is the 2-1 favorite in a wide-open 7 ½-furlong allowance contest for older horses.
Friday’s nine-race card starts at 12:45 p.m. and includes Hot Springs Stakes winner Nash in a conditioned allowance contest in Race 6. The seventh race is another deep allowance field that includes 2024 Honeybee Stakes (Grade III) winner and Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) participant Lemon Muffin, alongside allowance winners Chilled and Standoutsensation.
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day presented by Coca-Cola. All active-duty and retired military members receive free general admission with valid military ID and can purchase discounted $40 tickets to Millionaires’ Row and Skye Terrace by calling (502) 636-4450.
Saturday’s 10-race program includes a duo of stakes: the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes in Race 5, featuring the return of 2024 champion 2-year-old filly Immersive, and the $200,000 Chorleywood Stakes (Listed) in Race 10.
Churchill Downs wraps up the week Sunday with a 10-race Father’s Day card beginning at 12:45 p.m. Featured races include a first-level allowance in Race 5, a one-mile turf maiden special weight in Race 6 and a conditioned allowance in Race 8.
TwinSpires.com will offer several wagering promotions and tournaments throughout the week, including a $500 Stephen Foster Betting Challenge qualifier on Saturday. The contest will award the top three finishers entries to the $3,000 Stephen Foster Betting Challenge on Saturday, June 28. For more information, visit www.twinspires.com/tournaments.
For details on the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
Meet Leaders
Jockey Jose Ortiz entered day 29 of the 43-day Spring Meet with a 35-33 win lead over Luis Saez. Brian Hernandez Jr. was in third with 22 wins. … Joe Sharp led all trainers with 13 victories. He was four in front of Brad Cox and Mike Maker. … Kentucky Derby and Oaks winning owner Godolphin led the standings with eight wins. They were four in front of Calumet Farm, David Jacobson and Southwest Racing Stables and Triple V Racing.
Milestone Watch >>>
Jockey Corey Lanerie needs six wins to tie and seven to surpass Calvin Borel for second all-time in recorded Churchill Downs history. Borel’s 1,232 wins currently rank second behind Pat Day with 2,482. Lanerie is in third with 1,226.
