TVG will premiere a special feature on Saturday afternoon which will focus on the impact COVID-19 had on the global horse racing industry and the united efforts by TVG and the entire industry to continue to bring horse racing to fans. The award-winning network's coverage this weekend will also include two Kentucky Derby prep races – the $150,000 Jerome Stakes from Aqueduct on Friday and the $100,000 Sham Stakes (Grade 3) from Santa Anita on Saturday alongside stakes races from Gulfstream Park.
The 2020 retrospective will air at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on Saturday. To watch a one-minute preview, click here.
The first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year will be held at Aqueduct on New Year's Day with the $150,000 Jerome Stakes for 3-year-old hopefuls going one mile. Swill, tabbed as the 7-5 morning favorite for trainer Brad Cox, will take on four rivals with jockey Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. The bay son of Munnings was last seen finishing fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. The Jerome Stakes offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers.
On Saturday, Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker and Britney Eurton will be live on site at Santa Anita for a nine-race card featuring two graded stakes races – the $200,000 San Gabriel (G2) and the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3). The Sham Stakes will feature a field of five newly minted 3-year-olds who will be competing for points towards a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) including two for trainer Bob Baffert – Medina Spirit and Life is Good. Baffert won this race in 2020 with Authentic who went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Sham Stakes (G3) offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers.
Gulfstream Park has an eleven-race card featuring five stakes races scheduled for Saturday. The featured tenth event, the $100,000 Mucho Macho Stakes, has drawn a field of ten 3-year-olds including graded stake winner Mutasaabeq for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez. Owned by Shadwell Stable, the son of Into Mischief will switch back to dirt after a tenth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
In addition to opening weekend from Santa Anita, Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park, TVG will be featuring racing from Fair Grounds, Tampa Bay Downs and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.
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