Kentucky Derby Week Stakes Nominations Due Saturday; Second Closing of Oaks, Turf Classic Also Due

Apr 08, 2021

All Kentucky Derby Week stakes nominations, including the second closing of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI), close Saturday.

The second closing of the April 30 Longines Kentucky Oaks costs $1,500 while the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is a $1,000 payment. All stakes nominations can be made by calling Churchill Downs assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork at [email protected] or call (502) 638-3806.

A total of 18 stakes events are scheduled to be run Kentucky Derby Week led by the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 1. There are six graded stakes events on the undercard of the Derby: the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, the $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (GI), the $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford (GI), the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII), the $500,000 American Turf (GII) and the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII).

The Kentucky Oaks undercard is topped by the $500,000 La Troienne (GI). Also run on the undercard will be the $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (GII), the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (GII), the $300,000 Edgewood (GII) and the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII).

The stakes action begins Saturday, April 24 with Opening Night of the Spring Meet where the headlining race will be the $125,000 William Walker (Listed). Tuesday’s Champions Day card is topped by the $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Wednesday’s card will feature the $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile and Thurby’s program will showcase a stakes duo of the $150,000 Unbridled Sydney and the $120,000 Opening Verse.

For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen.