Keeneland announces Fall Meet, Breeders’ Cup undercard stakes

Keeneland announces Fall Meet, Breeders’ Cup undercard
stakes

A total of six stakes will be contested on the two Breeders’ Cup undercards at Keeneland Keeneland will be the focus of the racing world in October when the track presents 23 stakes worth a total of $5,975,000 in purse money during its 2015 Fall Meet, to be held October 2-24, and the special three-day celebration, October 29-31, surrounding the $26 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Sixteen stakes, including six Grade 1 events highlighted by the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), worth $5,075,000 are slated for the 17-day Fall Meet, which opens with the prestigious Fall Stars Weekend, October 2-4. Eight Fall Meet stakes are “Win and You’re In” events, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series of automatic qualifying races for the Breeders’ Cup. As the host site for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland has carded an additional seven stakes worth $900,000 — one to be held October 29 and three scheduled for each of the Breeders’ Cup undercards on October 30-31. The stakes are a mix of new and familiar names: $100,000 Lafayette for three-year-olds and up at seven furlongs on Thursday; the $200,000 Fayette (G2) for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, which moves in 2015 from its traditional Fall Meet closing day spot to Friday and is joined by the $200,000 Marathon (G2) for three-year-olds and up at 1 3/4 miles and the $100,000 Bryan Station for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the turf; and on Saturday the $100,000 Fort Springs for three-year-old fillies, $100,000 Juvenile Dirt Sprint for two-year-olds, and $100,000 Perryville for three-year-olds, each at six furlongs.

“This fall will be one of the most memorable racing seasons in Keeneland
history,” said Keeneland Vice President of Racing W.B. Rogers Beasley. “The
competition will be superb; the top trainers and jockeys will be on hand as the
anticipation builds all month toward the first-ever Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
It will be an exciting time for fans, horsemen and the entire Central Kentucky
community.”

Keeneland’s signature Fall Stars Weekend offers an exciting kick-off to the
Fall Meet, when nine graded stakes worth $3.7 million. Five of those races are
Grade 1 events. Opening day features the $400,000 Alcibiades (G1) for
two-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. The October 3 card includes the Shadwell
Turf Mile for three-year-olds and up; $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity for
two-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; and $400,000 First Lady (G1), for fillies and
mares at a mile on turf. Racing on October 4 is led by the $500,000 Spinster
(G1) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

A sixth Grade 1 stakes, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1),
an internationally renowned invitational for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8
miles on the turf, will be held October 10.

The Fall Meet also reflects two changes to the stakes program. Purses for the
Phoenix (G3) on October 2 and Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) on October 3
have increased from $200,000 to $250,000 each. Additionally, the $150,000 Valley
View (G3), a 1 1/16-mile race on turf for three-year-old fillies, has been moved
to closing day, October 24, for Fall Meet 2015.

NBC will broadcast live from Keeneland with two “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win
and You’re In Series” programs on October 3 (5-6 p.m. EDT) featuring the
Breeders’ Futurity and Shadwell Turf Mile and on October 4 (5-6 p.m.) with the
Spinster and the Bourbon (G3), a turf race for two-year-olds.

The eighth Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is the October 7 Jessamine (G3),
which awards the winner a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com