Only two weekends of racing remain in the Churchill Downs spring meet, and
the next-to-last weekend of racing beneath the Twin Spires features a look at
racing’s future stars in the historic Grade 3 Debutante Stakes, terrific live
music and another Sunday of Family Fun activities.
Saturday’s racing spotlight will shine on two-year-old fillies in the 112th
running of the $100,000
Debutante Stakes. The six-furlong race is the first
graded stakes event of the year for the two-year-old filly division in the
United States and could reveal candidates for the 2013 running of the $1
million, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
Ten have been entered in the race, including the Magna Graduate filly
Blueeyesintherein. The dark bay miss broke her maiden by 3 3/4 lengths while
going 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill on May 31 and will keep Leandro Goncalves in
the saddle for trainer Garry Simms. Among her rivals are fellow maiden debut
winners Floral Sky, a Mark Casse-trained daughter of Sky Mesa, and
Richie’slilcowgirl, who will be trying a conventional dirt track for the first
time in the Debutante. The Cowtown Cat filly debuted at Arlington Park for Larry
Rivelli but will be saddled Saturday by trainer Steve Asmussen off her
five-length romp in that May 11 event.
Nine older runners will line up in the $73,600
Kelly’s Landing Stakes one
race prior to the Debutante. The seven-furlong contest has attracted Grade 1
winner Noble’s Promise, fifth last out as the defending champion of the Grade 3
Aristides Stakes, and Whiskey Rebellion, third under the Aristides wire.
The weekend celebration begins with twilight racing on Friday and another
edition of “Honky Tonk Happy Hours,” with great music and drink specials from
4-7 p.m. (EDT) in the Paddock Garden. The Paddock Garden musical stage will
feature regional favorites Artie Dean Harris and Bourbontown. Admission gates
will open for Friday’s Twilight Racing program at 1:30 p.m. and post time for
the first of 11 races is 2:45 p.m.
Churchill Downs’ Sunday racing program will feature another edition of Family
Fun Days in the air conditioned comfort of the Paddock Pavilion.
Family Fun Days offer a very special Sunday at Churchill Downs for the entire
family, with attractions that include HorseRacing Bingo; Junior Jockey Club
activities; story time; a walking tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum to visit
with Winston, its resident miniature horse; and more. Sunday’s run includes a
special performance by the Mexico Lindo Dancers at 2:30 p.m.
Family Fun Days activities are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the
Paddock Pavilion on Sundays throughout the meet. More information on Family Fun
Days is available at
www.ChurchillDowns.com.
Post time for Sunday’s racing at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m. Admission
gates open at 11:30 a.m.
Seating, dining and tickets for Churchill Downs racing and special events may
be purchased through the track’s
online box
office or by calling 502-636-4400. Tickets may also be purchased at
Churchill Downs’ on-track box office, located at Gate 1 off Central Avenue. The
on-track box office is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
with the exception of Friday hours of noon to 6 p.m.
Next week’s closing weekend of spring meet racing will feature “Downs After
Dark” night racing on June 30. This special evening under the lights beneath the
historic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs will feature the return of the “White
Party” theme and the 11th running of the Grade 3, $100,000Bashford Manor Stakes,
an early prep for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs’ on-track box office will be open on June 30 from noon to 9
p.m. for the season’s final “Downs After Dark” celebration.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com