Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Twirling Candy Colt Outruns His Odds in Churchill Unveiling

4th-Churchill Downs, $100,000, Msw, 6-11, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.61, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
CANDY LANDING (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Pearl Bay, by Rush Bay) hinted at some zip with a :35 4/5 (2/21) breeze from the gate here last Thursday, but was let go at 17-1 for a barn that boasts pretty strong debut numbers. Showing speed from a high draw, the homebred dueled outside of 2-1 second timer Woodline (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter in :21.57. He always seemed to be going a bit easier than his rival, was asked for more from James Graham after a :44.57 half and scampered away from there to post a promising 4 1/2-length victory. The winner has a yearling half-sister by Cross Traffic and a foal half-brother by Classic Empire. He hails from the extended female family of Grade I winners Imaginary Lady, J P's Gusto and Proud Spell. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Mueller Thoroughbred Stable, LTD. (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.

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‘Love What I Do’: Ageless Jon Court Carries On At Churchill Downs

Veteran jockey Jon Court is the elder statesman in the Churchill Downs jockey colony at age 60. However, the journeyman rider continues to ride at a top level and remains optimistic about the future of his career.

“I've been very fortunate and blessed to be able to have a body that still cooperates and to have live horses underneath me,” said Court, who had five wins through 28 days at the Spring Meet. “I know I'm at the top of the stretch in my career but that means I still have a quarter-mile left to go. I've been around the block for many years and love what I do.”

Court has won more than 4,200 races in his career that began in 1980 at the now defunct Centennial Race Track in Littleton, Colo. Court started his jockey career before eight of the current Top 10 riders in the Churchill Downs colony were born.

“When you get to this stage of your career, some of the younger riders come up and ask for advice,” Court said. “I'm very open and love doing that. It makes you realize you are very blessed to be in that sort of situation where fellow riders are asking you for advice. I'm very lucky.”

Court was named to ride six horses over the next three days of racing at Churchill Downs. Among his scheduled mounts was a 2-year-old named Curly Tail for trainer Dallas Stewart and owner Willis Horton. Stewart and Horton remained successful with Court earlier this year when he rode Will's Secret to a third-place finish in the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

“There have been many loyal trainers and owners who have stuck with me for a number of years,” Court said. “This game is tough but loyalty goes a long way.”

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‘Rock The Downs’ This Saturday At Downs After Dark

Churchill Downs will get loud Saturday night as the Louisville, Ky. racetrack hosts the final Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser of the Spring Meet.

The theme for Saturday night's Downs After Dark is “Rock the Downs.” Guests are encouraged to break out their best rocker wear with vintage band T's, leather jackets, denim, plaid or even glam as they catch the grooves and dance to favorite rock covers between live races.

The first race on the 11-race nighttime card is 6 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The spacious 30,000-square-foot Plaza adjacent to the saddling paddock will be the heartbeat of the party. There will be live music on the Plaza Stage throughout the night, including Amos Hopkins & Friends from 5:30-8 p.m. and classic rock hits from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and every rock band in between by Rock United from 8:30-11:30 p.m.

Other features events include CirqueLouis Stilt Walkers, LED Jugglers, and three between-race music performances from the Pagoda as local actors perform rock ballads from the jukebox musical We Will Rock You. Additionally, there will be a laser light show on the facades of Churchill Downs' clubhouse once the sun sets.

Two specialty cocktails will be sold at the Old Forester Paddock Bar and Spend a Buck Bar on the second floor of the Clubhouse in the Food Court. “All Started With the Blues” is a tribute to legendary American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Robert Johnson and features Old Forester, Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Triple Sec and a Lemon and Mint garnish. “The Wolfman” is an homage to the legendary rock disc jockey and includes Finlandia Vodka, Chambord, Lemonade and a Blackberries garnish.

Admission gates will open Saturday at 5 p.m. and the first race is 6 p.m. The final race will be 11:10 p.m. and the on-track party will continue in the Plaza area until 11:30 p.m. The last call for alcohol will be post time for the final race of night.

Saturday's marquee entertainment event is paired with stellar horse racing, including the $150,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (Grade 3) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high near 90.

General admission to Downs After Dark is $12 and it includes an official program. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted to the track unless they are accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $69 per person. Outdoor-third floor box seats are on sale for $27 per person. Reserved seating can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

Churchill Downs will be back to normal with no restrictions starting Friday as the Commonwealth of Kentucky is slated to allow Kentucky businesses, venues and events to return to full capacity.

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America’s Day At The Races Telecast To Feature Racing From Belmont, Churchill

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 18.5 hours of coverage Thursday through Sunday, with action from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast live racing action this week, with at least three hours of coverage every day on FOX Sports 2.

Broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races (all times Eastern):

Thursday, June 10
FS2: 3 – 8:30 p.m.

Friday, June 11
FS2: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 12
FS2: 5– 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 13
FS2: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday will feature a nine-race card at Belmont with a first post of 3:05 p.m. Eastern, with FS2 airing from 3-8:30 p.m. Among the highlights from the Elmont, New York-based track will be a 1 1/4-mile inner turf contest for older fillies and mares in Race 7. High Opinion, trained by Tony Dutrow, is the 3-1 morning line favorite, boasting a resume that includes a runner-up finish in the Winter Memories last November at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In Race 8, a seven-furlong optional claiming race on the main track, 2-1 favorite Town Classic will be looking to build off a last-out third-place finish in the Grade 3 Runhappy in May at Belmont Park. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee ran third in the Sir Shackleton in the race prior in March at Gulfstream Park and is 0-2-2 in four stars to commence his 8-year-old campaign.

Thursday's broadcast will also feature the full eight-race card from Churchill, located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Friday's show will air the entire nine-race Belmont card, encompassing a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in an allowance optional claiming tilt in Race 7. Don't Call Me Mary, conditioned by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, will look to win her second consecutive start and is listed as the 2-1 favorite. The entirety of Churchill's nine-race program will also be shown.

Saturday will see the final two races on the 10-race Belmont card air on America's Day at the Races, while the first five races from Churchill, running its Downs After Dark program, will also be shown.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 70,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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