Churchill Downs

Jockeys and Jeans announced the cancellation of the fundraiser for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund scheduled for Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. "It's sad because the needs of former jockeys who suffered career ending injuries go on, but given the need to battle this deadly disease, it is necessary," said Jockeys and Jeans President, Barry Pearl. Added Churchill's Executive Director of Racing Mike Ziegler, "Due to the nature of Jockey and Jeans and the way it brings people together from all over the country, we want to ensure that it can...

A temporary restraining order issued Sep. 4 has blocked a Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) mandate from taking effect that seeks to force the Fair Grounds to open its backstretch stabling to as many as 500 Thoroughbreds displaced by Hurricane Laura in the last week of August. An Orleans Parish Civil District Court judge is now expected to rule on the injunction after a Sep. 11 hearing. The news site Crescent City Sports first reported on the 57-page request for injunction filed by attorneys for the Fair Grounds, which is...

Bob Baffert's formidable GI Kentucky Derby line-up had continued to dwindle along this extended Triple Crown trail--with one of his entries even scratching in the paddock Saturday--but the last colt standing, Authentic (Into Mischief), provided the Hall of Fame conditioner with a record-tying sixth trophy in the "Run for the Roses." Odds-on favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) ranged up to challenge the winner, but was repelled, and settled for second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Huge longshot Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) was this year's trifecta crasher, while second choice Honor...

When Klaravich Stables' Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) made his one and only previous appearance beneath the Twin Spires on [real] Derby Day 2019, the 320,000gns purchase out of the 2017 Tattersalls October sale returned $19.20 to his happy backers in the GIII American Turf S. Let go at the exact same quote as the least-fancied of three Chad Brown entries for Saturday's GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S., the 4-year-old settled last but one, was produced wide into the lane by Javier Castellano and rocketed home to...

In a race that did not deserve a loser, Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) took advantage of the ultimate race flow for her one-run style and dropped her nose down on the wire ahead of a desperately unlucky 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) to win the GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. Taken back off the pace, as is her custom, Bell's The One laid fifth as Serengeti Empress, last-out winner of the GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga, dueled on a scorching pace inside...

Longshot Sittin On Go blew past his rivals in the stretch to become the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Giant's Causeway), who was campaigned by these same connections. The chestnut was wheeling back on relatively short rest after an off-the-pace 4 1/4-length tally going five furlongs at Ellis Aug. 16--he earned just a 49 Beyer Speed Figure. Unhurried early and guided a bit off the potentially dead rail, Sittin On Go traveled nicely on the bridle while far back as odds-on Therideofalifetime (Candy Ride {Arg}) zipped away...

Rushie, third behind Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby June 6 and behind Art Collector (Bernardini) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland last out July 11, benefitted from a bit of class relief and cutback in distance to break through at the graded level. Away in good order from the outside stall, the grey settled fifth early but worked his way up to third and deep as Vertical Threat (Tapiture) set the pace...

Fancy Liquor--who had employed a front-running or pressing style in each of his five prior starts--benefitted from a heady ride by red-hot Florent Geroux to pick up the pieces after a hot pace materialized. Unhurried early from his outside draw, the dark bay sat fifth in the early going as a trio of rivals zipped away to duel through hot splits of :23.04, :46.48 and 1:11.23. Favored Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) shook free of his pace foes heading for home, but he was softened up for the stretch drive,...

Heavy favorite Gamine (Into Mischief)'s stiffest competition in Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks figured to come from a daughter of Daredevil--just not 15-1 Shedaresthedevil, who led home a one-two for her exported stallion over second choice Swiss Skydiver. The Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms representative covered the nine furlongs at Churchill Downs in an Oaks record of 1:48.28 (Bird Town, 2003, 1:48.64). The winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths, with the same margin back to 7-10 Gamine in third. Trainer Brad Cox and rider Florent...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-Churchill Downs, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 12:35 p.m. Mike Rutherford's homebred BIG LAKE (American Pharoah) debuts for trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt is the first foal out of Resistivity (Student Council), who was third in the 2014 GII Forward Gal S. Brad Cox saddles Godolphin firster Essential Quality (Tapit), a son of graded placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality). TJCS PPs 5th-Saratoga, $72k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 2:01 p.m. Shadwell Farm's homebred MUNQAD (War Front), a half-brother to GIII Gotham S. winner Shagaf...

After missing the entire 2019 season due to injury and colic, 2018's champion sophomore filly Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) returned to Grade I glory with an easy score in Friday's GI La Troienne S. at Churchill Downs. Away in good order from the outside stall in this eight-horse affair, the 2-5 chalk was four-wide rounding the first turn in a joint third as Lady Kate (Bernardini) hustled up to the front with Risky Mandate (Strong Mandate) shadowing her through a :23.4 opening quarter-mile. Racing off the fence in third, Monomoy Girl...

'TDN Rising Star' Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returns to the site of her biggest career victory in Saturday's GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. The 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine beneath the Twin Spires has begun to make up for a winless season at three for trainer Chad Brown with a pair of jaw-dropping wins at Belmont this June-the GIII Intercontinental S. and the GI Just a Game S. The 4-5 morning-line favorite will be piloted for the first time by Javier Castellano. Brad...