Tag: Churchill Downs

Steve Kornacki Joins NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby Coverage

Steve Kornacki, NBC News' and MSNBC's celebrated national political correspondent, will join NBC Sports' 2021 Kentucky Derby coverage this Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Kornacki, who has been widely lauded for his ability to easily communicate the complex election process, will apply his unique analytical perspective in “Meet the Contenders” segments on the Kentucky Derby field. In addition, he will offer insight on notable betting trends.

Last fall, Kornacki brought his election-style coverage to Football Night in America, breaking down the NFL playoff picture.

“After successfully tackling FNIA, we're excited to have Steve join our Kentucky Derby team,” said Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer of NBC Sports' Kentucky Derby coverage and Football Night in America. “We expect he will be right at home working a sport that includes terms like neck-and-neck, down-to-the-wire, and dead heat.”

“It's going to be a thrill to be at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, something I've wanted to do since the very first Derby I watched as a kid in 1987,” Kornacki said. “To get to play a role with the NBC Sports team, which I've been a fan of for years, is an honor.”

Kornacki, who will be making his first trip to Churchill Downs, is a native of Groton, Massachusetts, and regularly attended races at nearby Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park in his teens and as a Boston University student. One of his earliest horse racing memories came when an uncle took him to the harness races at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He picked five consecutive winners. It's a performance he's spent the last three decades trying to replicate.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

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Diamond Oops Chasing Repeat In Friday’s Twin Spires Turf Sprint

Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and Patrick Biancone Racing's Diamond Oops makes his return to the grass Friday when he headlines a field of 11 for the 27th running of the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The 5 ½-furlong grass test is the 10th race of the day with a 4:55 p.m. post time.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops will be attempting to become the first repeat winner of the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. He prevailed by a neck in last year's running that marked his most recent start on grass.

Florent Geroux, who was aboard for last year's victory, has the mount Friday on Diamond Oops who is making his 2021 debut. Diamond Oops will exit post nine.

The field for the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Johnny Unleashed (Gerardo Corrales, 122 pounds)
  2. Guildsman (Umberto Rispoli, 122)
  3. Fiya (Luis Saez, 122)
  4. Classy John (Tyler Gaffalione, 122
  5. Just Might (Colby Hernandez, 122)
  6. Ambassador Luna (James Graham, 117)
  7. Smart Remark (Rafael Bejarano, 122)
  8. Fast Boat (Irad Ortiz Jr., 122)
  9. Diamond Oops (Geroux, 122)
  10. Sombeyay (Flavien Prat, 122)
  11. Carotari (Julien Leparoux, 122)

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Breeders’ Cup Winner Aunt Pearl Makes Sophomore Debut In Friday’s Edgewood

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables' Aunt Pearl, dominating winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland last fall, will face six rivals when she makes her 3-year-old debut in the 37th running of the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Newport Racing & Gaming (G2) at Churchill Downs on Friday.

The 1 1/16-mile test over the Matt Winn Turf Course will be the seventh race on Friday's 13-race program, with a 2:09 p.m. post time.

Trained by Brad Cox, Aunt Pearl followed up her 5-length maiden victory Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs with another front-running triumph in the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland, which set her up for her Breeders' Cup victory.

Regular rider Florent Geroux has the mount and will exit post six.

The field for the Edgewood, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Postnup (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118 pounds)
  2. Gift List (Javier Castellano, 118)
  3. Queen of the Green (James Graham, 118)
  4. Barista (Joel Rosario, 118)
  5. Line Dancing (Julien Leparoux, 118)
  6. Aunt Pearl (Geroux, 122)
  7. Zaajel (Luis Saez, 118)

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Oaks Winner Shedaresthedevil Faces Dunbar Road, Paris Lights In Friday’s La Troienne

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil, upset winner of last September's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), headlines a field of seven fillies and mares entered Monday for Friday's 36th running of the $500,000 La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com (G1).

Scheduled as the eighth race on Friday's 13-race Kentucky Oaks program at Churchill Downs, post time for the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne is 3:03 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post Friday is 10:30 a.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil came off a five-month layoff to start 2021 with a victory in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 13, defeating next-out G1 Apple Blossom winner Letruska in a battle to the wire. Regular rider Florent Geroux will be aboard and exit post two.

Two other Grade 1 winners will line up to challenge Shedaresthedevil: Peter Brant's Dunbar Road and WinStar Stablemates Racing's Paris Lights.

Trained by Chad Brown, Dunbar Road will be making her 2021 debut after closing out 2020 with a third-place finish behind champion Monomoy Girl in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland. Winner of the 2019 Alabama (G1), Dunbar Road will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post three.

Paris Lights, 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs in her career for trainer Bill Mott, won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last summer and opened 2021 with a victory in the Distaff Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct on April 2. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post five.

The field for the La Troienne, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Envoutante (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118 pounds)
  2. Shedaresthedevil (Geroux, 123)
  3. Dunbar Road (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  4. Bajan Girl (Luis Saez, 118)
  5. Paris Lights (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)
  6. Sanenus (CHI) (Javier Castellano, 120)
  7. Finite (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118)

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