Kentucky Derby Week Stakes Races Attract 1000+ Nominations

Added on Apr 23, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

Horse Racing

While the Kentucky Derby is the ‘main event’ of the weekend with the Kentucky Oaks for fillies a solid ‘semifinal’ match the entire week of racing action at Churchill Downs has attracted plenty of interest from horse owners. According to Churchill Downs officials over 1,000 horses have been nominated for 13 stakes races scheduled in Kentucky Derby and Oaks week.

The main event of the weekend–the Kentucky Derby–attracted 377 nominations and the Kentucky Oaks saw 120 3-year-old fillies nomiated. There were also 85 older turf horses nominated to the Silver Anniversary running of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.

The Kentucky Derby week will get underway on Saturday, April 30th with what is being dubbed ‘Opening Night’ that will begin the Spring Race meet at Churchill Downs. The highlight of Saturday’s card will be the 87th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial. This race attracted 67 nominations and is being promoted as a last chance for three year olds to add to their graded stakes earnings in hopes of becoming eligible for the Kentucky Derby itself.

On Friday, May 6 the racing card headlined by the Kentucky Oaks will also feature the 1 1/16 mile Grade 2 $300,000 La Troienne. The La Troienne has attracted 28 nominations for the race for fillies and mares age 3 and up. Most notable in this field is 2010 Kentucky Oaks runner up Evening Jewel and Gazelle Stakes winner No Such Word.

The eighth running of the Alysheba Stakes will also take place on Kentucky Oaks day and has attracted 45 nominees for the Grade 3 $300,000 race. Preakness runner up First Dude is expected to head this field with other nominees that have finished ‘in the money’ in stakes competition including Awesome Gem, Winslow Homer and Demarcation.

There are also six stakes races slated for Kentucky Derby Saturday. Among this most notable is the 77th running of the $300,000-added Churchill Downs, a seven-furlong Grade 2 race for 4-year-olds and up. The Churchill Downs attracte 43 nominees headed including multiple stakes winners Smiling Tiger and Sidney’s Candy. Other single stakes winners nominated include Wise Dan; Capt. Candyman Can, Aikenite and Noble’s Promise.

The turf course highlight of Kentucky Derby day is the $100,000 added Edgewood. This race attracted 48 nominees including Winter Memories, Bouquet Booth and Harlan’s Ruby.