Churchill Downs

Reigning champion 2-year-old filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu made it five stakes wins on Saturday for her sire Gun Runner with a dominant performance in the GIII Dogwood S. under the lights at Churchill Downs. Last seen tasting defeat for the first time when a tiring fourth behind Secret Oath (Arrogate) in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks over this track, the $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was off at 51 cents on the dollar to return to winning ways and did just that. Away quickest of all from...

6th-Churchill Downs, $123,375, Msw, 9-21, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.93, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. PROTEGE (c, 2, Good Magic--Taboo, by Forestry) became the 11th winner for his in-form first-crop sire (by Curlin) with a good-looking victory beneath the Twin Spires Wednesday. The $80,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer (see below) was sent off at odds of 10.55-1 and jumped about midfield before working his way forward to sit third, just off dueling pacesetters. Warming up to the task three wide approaching the stretch, the Apr. 25 foal claimed pace-pressing Lugan Knight (Goldencents) with a...

Sent off at odds of 2-1 despite a difficult draw in gate 12, Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous (f, 2, Into Mischief--Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) did it toughest of all, but was there for Tyler Gaffalione when push came to shove and went on to prevail by 2 1/4 deceptively easy lengths to become the 33rd 'TDN Rising Star' for her boom sire. Away without incident from the wide outside, the homebred raced four wide in the breeze just off a trio of pacesetters up ahead of her. Cruising along in...

Kenny McPeek captured his third GIII Pocahontas S. in the last eight years when Fun and Feisty (Midshipman--Grouse Grind, by First Samurai) crossed the line an emphatic winner Saturday at Churchill Downs. The winner didn't have any speed in the 12-horse field and settled in the back, second from last yet well in front of Naughty Gal (Into Mischief), the GIII Adirondack S. winner who trailed throughout. After favored Grand Love (Gun Runner) showed the way through :23.74 and :48.07 early fractions, Fun and Feisty remained well behind but was...

Curly Jack became the second graded winner for his freshman sire (by Curlin) with an upset score in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Away alertly, the bay raced off the fence in sixth in a tightly bunched pack as 'TDN Rising Star' and second choice in the betting Damon's Mound (Girvin) clocked a :23.53 opening quarter. Favored fellow 'Rising Star' Echo Again (Gun Runner) charged up to confront Damon's Mound as the half went in :47.48. Curly Jack bided his time as the top two knocked heads...

Loggins (c, 2, Ghostzapper--Beyond Blame, by Blame) had a trio of bullet workouts on display for trainer Brad Cox and ran to the money as the 4-5 favorite with an impressive 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut Saturday at Churchill Downs. Away in good order from a middle gate in a field of 11, the bay raced in between rivals in a tightly bunched group. Third and traveling smartly on the far turn, he launched a three-wide bid approaching the five-sixteenths, took control under his own power at the top of...

The "Road to the Kentucky Derby," a series of races awarding points toward a starting gate position in each year's GI Kentucky Derby, will see modifications for the upcoming season, including an increase of points for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3. In addition, other early-season prep races have been elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2 in an effort to increase the importance of those races. They include the GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park, the GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct,...

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson, Kentucky, from Enchantment Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Laguna Development Corporation, for total consideration of $79 million in cash, subject to certain working capital and other purchase price adjustments. CDI will also assume Ellis Park's opportunity to construct a track extension facility in Owensboro, Kentucky. "This is an exciting announcement for the horse racing industry, the cities of Henderson and Owensboro, and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky," said Kentucky Governor...

Edited Press Release A major technological medical advancement that can help detect and prevent equine medical injuries is coming to Churchill Downs Racetrack. In conjunction with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and the PetVet Care Centers network, Churchill Downs will soon install an equine PET scan machine at its Equine Medical Center in the Churchill Downs stable area that will help veterinarians and horsemen assess the racing soundness of Thoroughbred horses that compete at the historic Louisville racetrack. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a diagnostic imaging test that can...

Gary Palmisano, Jr. has been promoted to Executive Director of Racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated, the company announced Monday. In this role, CDI says Palmisano will "support and enhance the Company's commitment to the U.S. Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry as well as focus on the implementation of standards and processes outlined in the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act" across CDI racing properties. "Gary brings a wealth of varied industry experience that ideally positions him for success in this role," said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer at...

Edited Press Release Churchill Downs Incorporated has entered into a multi-year agreement with FanDuel Group involving different facets of FanDuel's sports wagering, advance deposit wagering and television business. Under the Agreement, CDI will provide certain technology and services to enable FanDuel's customers to place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing via FanDuel's sports wagering and ADW platforms. CDI will also authorize wagering on CDI's owned or controlled horse racing content via FanDuel's platforms in the United States and grant FanDuel certain television and media rights to broadcast CDI-owned racing content on...

Torie Gladwell, Jason Loutsch and Cathy Shircliff have joined Thoroughbred Charities of America's Board of Directors. "We are thrilled that Torie, Jason, and Cathy have joined our board and I look forward to working with them," said Mike McMahon president of TCA. "They each bring unique skill sets, new ideas, and most importantly, a passion for TCA's mission. The TCA board is committed to working hard to raise money for the benefit of the approved organizations that support Thoroughbred aftercare as well as the people working on the backstretches and...