Churchill Downs offers several top races besides the Kentucky Derby
Skippylongstocking, shown winning January's Grade I Pegasus World Cup, returns in Friday's $750,000 Alysheba at Churchill Downs. Photo by Jeff Zamaiko, courtesy of Gulfstream Park May 1 (UPI) -- Churchill Downs has organized a weekend of racing that could go into the books as second only to November's Breeders' Cup World Championships, featuring not only the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, but also championship-caliber races in almost every division. While all of that's going on, the first of the English Classics, the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas, are Saturday and Sunday at Newmarket.
Japan returns to Grade 1 action with the Tenno Sho (Spring) on Sunday. And, oh yes, the first leg of Japan's Dirt Triple Crown is in the books Take a deep breath and dive right into the rest of Derby weekend in Louisville and the global highlights. On the dirt Splendora, shown winning the Grade I Beholder Mile in March, contests Saturday's $1 million Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.
Phot by Benoit Photography, courtesy of Santa Anita Bob Baffert's 2025 Triple Crown hopeful Cornucopian and Bill Mott's Knightsbridge, riding a four-race win streak, top the entries for Saturday's $1 million Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes at 7 furlongs. Watch out for Banishing, winner of the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai in his last start, Japanese visitor T O Elvis, who looks like a good one, and Point Dume, who beat Book'em Danno in the Grade II Carter in his last outing. Excellent race.
Going 1 furlong farther in Saturday's $750,000 Grade II Pat Day Mile are a bunch of Triple Crown nominees. Noted on the morning line are another Baffert prospect, Crude Velocity, and the Cherie DeVaux-trained Englishman. Great White was entered here but drew into the Kentucky Derby.
Female sprinters take the spotlight under the Twin Spires in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Derby City Distaff. The splendid Splendora, reigning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner, rides a five-race winning streak into the 7-furlong test. Yet, the morning line has Ways and Means as the 8-5 favorite.
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