Kentucky Derby Week Stakes Purses Remain Even; $9.85 Million September Stakes Schedule Announced

A total of 18 stakes events, topped by the 146th runnings of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), are on tap for the 2020 September Meet at Churchill Downs.

The September Meet stakes schedule is led by the revised Kentucky Derby Week, which was moved from April 25-May 2 to Sept. 1-5 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spectacular week of racing will feature 14 graded stakes, including five Grade I races that will be headlined by the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, Sept. 5 and Kentucky Oaks on Friday, Sept. 4.

Kentucky Derby Day will showcase seven graded stakes races including the Grade I, $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for older horses and the Grade I, $500,000 Derby City Distaff (formerly known as the Humana Distaff) for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

A new addition to the revised Kentucky Derby Day stakes schedule is the $200,000 Iroquois presented by Ford (GIII), the launch of the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby (Top 4 points: 10-4-2-1) and a “Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Juvenile Division” race for 2-year-olds that will be run at one-mile. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) held on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Other stakes on Kentucky Derby Day are the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII) for fillies and mares at one-mile on turf; the $500,000 American Turf (GII) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf; and the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII) for 3-year-olds at one mile.

Kentucky Oaks Day will feature six graded stakes events which includes the Grade I, $500,000 La Troienne for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Other stakes on the program are the $400,000 Alysheba (GII) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles; the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield Foods (GII) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs; the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (GII) for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf (shortened from its previous 1 1/16 miles on turf); and the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

While the Iroquois is set for Kentucky Derby Day, its filly counterpart, the $200,000 Pocahontas (GIII), will be run two days prior on “Thurby.” The one-mile event for 2-year-old fillies kicks off the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Oaks (Top 4 points: 10-4-2-1) and is a “Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Division” contest with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

The Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes, which was previously run on Kentucky Derby Day, is tentatively scheduled to be run during the Fall Meet.

After the Sept. 1-5 Kentucky Derby Week, Churchill Downs will stage its annual nine-day September Meet from Sept. 17-27. The lone stakes event will be the $100,000 Ack Ack for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on Sept. 26.

For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

Day/Date Running Grade Purse Race Age/Sex Distance Surface
Champions Day
Tuesday, Sept. 1 2nd   $100,000 Champions Day Marathon Overnight Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 3&up 1 ½ M Dirt
 
Wednesday, Sept. 2 10th   $150,000 Unbridled Sidney 3&up f/m 5 ½ F Turf
Thurby Presented By Old Forester
Thursday, Sept. 3 52nd III $200,000 Pocahontas 2yo f 1 M Dirt
Thursday, Sept. 3 15th   $100,000 Opening Verse Overnight Stakes 3&up 1 M Turf
Longines Kentucky Oaks Day

Six stakes races cumulatively worth $3 million

Friday, Sept. 4 146th I $1,250,000 Longines Kentucky Oaks 3yo f 1 1/8 M Dirt
Friday, Sept. 4 35th I $500,000 La Troienne 4&up f/m 1 1/16 M Dirt
Friday, Sept. 4 17th II $400,000 Alysheba 4&up 1 1/16 M Dirt
Friday, Sept. 4 65th II $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield Foods 3yo f 7 F Dirt
Friday, Sept. 4 36th II $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank 3yo f 1 M Turf
Friday, Sept. 4 26th II $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint 3&up 5 ½ F Turf
Kentucky Derby Day Presented by Woodford Reserve

Seven stakes races cumulatively worth $6.2 million

Saturday, Sept. 5 146th I $3,000,000 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve 3yo 1 ¼ M Dirt
Saturday, Sept. 5 34th I $1,000,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic 4&up 1 1/8 M Turf
Saturday, Sept. 5 34th I $500,000 Derby City Distaff 4&up f/m 7 F Dirt
Saturday, Sept. 5 35th II $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile 4&up f/m 1 M Turf
Saturday, Sept. 5 96th II $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU 3yo 1 M Dirt
Saturday, Sept. 5 29th II $500,000 American Turf 3yo 1 1/16 M Turf
Saturday, Sept. 5 39th III $200,000 Iroquois presented by Ford 2yo 1 M Dirt
               
Saturday, Sept. 26 28th III $100,000 Ack Ack 3&up 1 M Dirt

The post Kentucky Derby Week Stakes Purses Remain Even; $9.85 Million September Stakes Schedule Announced appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights