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Rushing Fall, Swiss Skydiver Top Stakes Nominations For Keeneland’s Historic Summer Meet

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds' four-time Keeneland stakes winner Rushing Fall and Peter Callahan's multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver, the leading point earner on the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1), are among the noted horses nominated to the 10 stakes worth a total of $2,575,000 to be run during Keeneland's five-day Summer Meet from July 8-12.

Rushing Fall and Swiss Skydiver both are nominated to stakes on July 11, when Keeneland will host a blockbuster day of racing featuring six graded stakes. Rushing Fall is nominated to the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1), which she won last year, while Swiss Skydiver is nominated to both the $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

The Summer Meet, which accommodates a portion of the 16-day Spring Meet that Keeneland was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 outbreak, will be held without fans but with limited owners in attendance.

“Keeneland thanks the owners and trainers who nominated horses to the Summer Meet stakes and will be supporting our racing program during this historic five-day season,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “We also salute the exercise riders, grooms, hot walkers and others in the stable area who have reported to work every day since the pandemic began to continue caring for these horses. This season would not be possible without the hard work and cooperation of countless people and organizations along with the backing of Keeneland's corporate partners.”

For 3-year-olds, the 96th running of the Toyota Blue Grass, held at 1 1/8 miles, and the 83rd running of the Central Bank Ashland, at 1 1/16 miles, are respective major preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Sept. 5 and Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4. The Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland both carry 170 qualifying points for the Derby and Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first four finishers.

Joining the Toyota Blue Grass, Central Bank Ashland and Coolmore Jenny Wiley on July 11 are the $250,000 Madison (G1), $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association and $150,000 Shakertown (G2).

Wagering that day will feature a $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

Click here for the list of nominees to the Summer Meet stakes and their past performances. Here is a look at those nominations:

Friday, July 10 – Entries taken July 7

Maker's Mark Mile (G1): The 32nd running of the prestigious $300,000 turf race attracted 34 nominees headed by the first- and second-place finishers in the May 25 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita: Raging Bull (FR) and Next Shares.

Owned by Peter Brant and trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull is a two-time Grade 1 winner who was fourth in last year's Maker's 46 Mile. Next Shares, winner of Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in 2018, is trained by Richard Baltas, who is part-owner of the 7-year-old.

Gary Barber owns and Mark Casse trains two other nominees of note: Got Stormy, a multiple Grade 1-winning mare who has defeated males and was second in the 2019 TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and third in Keeneland's 2019 Coolmore Jenny Wiley, and 2019 Preakness (G1) winner War of Will.

Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select: The 35th running of the $100,000 race, which will be contested over the Beard Course of 7 furlongs, 184 feet on the main track, carries 34 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks on a 20-8-4-2 scale for the top four finishers.

Heading the 27 nominees is Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Wicked Whisper won last fall's Frizette (G1) at Belmont. She has not raced since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita in November.

Saturday, July 11 – Entries taken July 8

Toyota Blue Grass (G2): This year's running of Keeneland's most famous race will mark the 25th year the stakes has been sponsored by Toyota. Among the 48 nominees is the aforementioned filly Swiss Skydiver.

Trained by two-time Toyota Blue Grass winner Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver has won her past three starts beginning with the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and followed by the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

Another accomplished runner is Jackpot Farm's Basin, winner of the Runhappy Hopeful (G1) last summer at Saratoga. Trained by Asmussen, Basin finished second in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his most recent start.

Other nominees of note include Ete Indien and a quartet of runners from the stable of Bob Baffert.

Ete Indien, who won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and was third in the Florida Derby (G1), is trained by Patrick Biancone. He co-owns the colt in partnership with Linda Shanahan, Sanford Bacon, Dream With Me Stable, Horse France America and D P Racing.

Spendthrift Farm, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables' Authentic, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his most recent start, is one of the nominees for Baffert.

Other Baffert nominees include two-time graded stakes winner Thousand Words, who is owned by Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm, and two debut maiden winners: Uncle Chuck, owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Whitman; and Cezanne, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and St. Elias Stable.

Central Bank Ashland (G1): Swiss Skydiver heads the 30 nominees, which also include Grade 2 winners Bonny South, Tonalist's Shape and Venetian Harbor.

Trained by Brad Cox and owned by Juddmonte Farms, Bonny South has won her past three races, including the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in her most recent start.

Tonalist's Shape, winner of the Davona Dale (G2) and Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream in February, is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owners Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch.

Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides' Venetian Harbor won the Las Virgenes (G2) at Santa Anita. Trained by Richard Baltas, she was second to Swiss Skydiver in the Fantasy in her most recent start.

Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1): Defending champion Rushing Fall heads a list of 22 fillies and mares nominated to the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Trained by Chad Brown, Rushing Fall has won four stakes at Keeneland starting with the 2017 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3), 2018 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association and 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane's End (G1).

With a win in the Coolmore Jenny Wiley, Rushing Fall would join champions Beholder and Lady Eli as the only horses to win Grade 1 races at age 2, 3, 4 and 5 since 1976.

Also nominated to the Coolmore Jenny Wiley is Brant's champion Sistercharlie (IRE), a seven-time Grade 1 winner who captured the 2018 Jenny Wiley. Brown also trains Sistercharlie, who received the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion turf female.

Madison (G1): Haruya Yoshida's defending champion Spiced Perfection tops a roster of 23 fillies and mares nominated to the 7-furlong race on the main track. Now trained by Mark Casse, Spiced Perfection also won Keeneland's Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) during the 2019 Fall Meet.

Other top sprinters nominated to the Madison are Grade 1 winners Guarana, owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and trained by Brown, and Mia Mischief, owned by Stonestreet Stables and trained by Asmussen.

Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association: The race, for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf, drew 29 nominees headlined by Robert and Lawana Low's Sweet Melania. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sweet Melania won last fall's JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland and captured her 2020 debut in the Wonder Again (G3) at Belmont on June 20.

Shakertown (G2): Wesley Ward's Bound for Nowhere heads a list of 36 nominees for the 24th running of the $150,000, 5½-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up. Ward trains Bound for Nowhere, who won the 2018 Shakertown and finished second in last year's race.

Sunday, July 12 – Entries taken July 9

TVG Elkhorn (G2): The 35th running of the $175,000 race, for 4-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf, drew 39 nominees. Heading them is Michael Hui's $2 million earner Zulu Alpha.

Trained by Mike Maker, Zulu Alpha has won two of three starts in 2020 headlined by a triumph in the Pegasus World Turf Invitational (G1). Among his six graded stakes victories is the 2018 Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland.

Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3): Topping the list of 30 nominees for 32nd running of the 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds worth $100,000 is Three Diamond Farm's Field Pass.

Maker also trains Field Pass, a three-time stakes winner who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in March and the Audubon at Churchill Downs in his most recent start June 20.

The post Rushing Fall, Swiss Skydiver Top Stakes Nominations For Keeneland’s Historic Summer Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for June 25

Since the last TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10, Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) won the GII Santa Anita Oaks and Gamine (Into Mischief) dominated in the GI Acorn S. Two very good fillies, they have moved to the head of the class and no one else comes close. A Swiss Skydiver-Gamine showdown in the GI Kentucky Oaks would make it one of the best races of the year.

With more than two months left before the Oaks, most in the group will have at least one more prep. The GI Ashland July 11 at Keeneland is shaping up to be one of the more important preps on the year. Saratoga will offer a trio of races that all may have an impact on the Oaks in the July 18 GI Coaching Club American Oaks, the Aug. 8 GI Test S., and the Aug. 15 GI Alabama S.

Deletions from the list since it last ran include Finite (Munnings) and Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo), neither of whom have any recent workouts and are running out of time to make the Oaks.

1) GAMINE (Into Mischief—Peggy Jane, by Kafwain)

‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Michael L. Petersen. B-Grace Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $220,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP; $1,800,000 2yo ’19 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $234,600.

Last Start: 1st GI Longines Acorn S., BEL, June 20

Next Start: To Be Determined

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50.

Heading into last weekend, it seemed inconceivable that a horse could dislodge Swiss Skydiver from the top spot. That changed in the 1:32.55 it took for Gamine to crush her foes in the Acorn. It was simply one of the best performances from a filly since, well, Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. She got a 110 Beyer figure, 10 points higher than Tiz the Law (Constitution) ran in winning the GI Belmont S. A horse that sold for $1.8 million at last year’s Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Old Midatlantic sale, she won her first two starts, but not in the fashion that suggested she was a superstar. Trainer Bob Baffert has yet to pick out the next race for his filly, but a start in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 18 makes sense. That would be a good test because the only thing Gamine has yet to prove is how she will fare against quality fillies going around two turns. Her only two-turn race was the allowance at Oaklawn and she was hard pressed to win. Looking into the fall, if Baffert really wants to get adventurous, the GI Preakness S. could be an option. Owner Michael Lund Petersen lives in Baltimore.

2) SWISS SKYDIVER (Daredevil–Expo Gold, by Johannesburg)

O-Peter J Callahan. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $35,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 7-4-1-1, $557,980.

Last Start: 1st GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, June 6

Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, July 11

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 310.

Swiss Skydiver is putting together the type of campaign that is hard to find these days. She wins, she doesn’t miss a dance and she ships all over the country. After his filly won the GIII Fantasy S. in May, trainer Ken McPeek could have sent her to the sidelines, but chose instead to ship her all the way to California for the GII Santa Anita Oaks. She dominated again, winning by four lengths. She’s raced seven times and has run at six tracks and won at four. In any other year, she would be the clear cut No. 1 for the Oaks. But with Gamine’s explosive performance in the Acorn she drops down to No. 2.

3) VENETIAN HARBOR (Munnings—Sounds of the City, by Street Cry {Ire})

O-Ciaglia Racing LLC, Highland Yard LLC, River Oak Farm & Dominic Savides. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY). T-Richard Baltas. Sales History: $110,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP; $205,000 RNA 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-2-0, $243,400.

Last Start: 2nd GIII Fantasy S., OP, May 1

Next Start: To Be Determined

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50.

It’s been a quiet seven weeks for Venetian Harbor, who hasn’t started since finishing second as the odds-on favorite in the Fantasy May 1. In hindsight, it was far from a bad race as she was beaten by Swiss Skydiver. It did, however, suggest that she may have distance limitations. Trainer Richie Baltas said either the GI Test S. Aug. 8 or the GI Ashland S. July 11 will be next. He’s moved his filly from Santa Anita to San Luis Rey Downs because he feels Venetian Harbor likes the surface there better. “I think she can go a distance,” Baltas said. “The key with her is just getting her to relax.” A lot of people jumped off her bandwagon after the Fantasy, but she’s clearly got a lot of ability and a win in the Test or Ashland would serve notice that she could very well be a major factor in the Oaks.

4) SPEECH (Mr Speaker—Scribbling Sarah, by Freud)

O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. B-Gail Rice (FL). T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $65,000 ylg ’18 OBSWIN; $95,000 RNA ylg ’18 FTKJUL; $190,000 2yo ’19 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 6-1-4-1, $113,840.

Last Start: 2nd GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, June 6

Next Start: To Be Determined

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 60.

She’s eligible for a first-level allowance race and has lost five of her six starts. Normally, that wouldn’t be nearly a good enough record for someone to land in the No. 4 spot in an Oaks poll, but Speech is far better than her record suggests. Her problem is that she keeps running into bears. She was second behind Donna Veloce in the GIII Santa Ysabel before finishing second behind Gamine in an allowance at Oaklawn, losing by just a neck. That Gamine came back off that race and shattered the stakes record in the Acorn makes Speech look that much better. She got beat by another very good horse when second behind Swiss Skydiver in the Santa Anita Oaks. Hard to make a case that she can win an Oaks that includes Gamine and Swiss Skydiver, but she’s a good filly that has been unlucky. Trainer Michael McCarthy reports that she will run next in either the Ashland or the GIII Beaumont, a seven-furlong race at Keeneland July 10.

5) BONNY SOUTH (Munnings—Touch the Star, by Tapit)

O/B-Juddmonte Farms (Ky). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-0, $323,350.

Last Start: 1st GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 21

Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, July 11

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 100.

In Bonny South and Shedaresthedevil, trainer Brad Cox has a pair of contenders. Cox has been pleased with how they are doing, but notes that what counts is how the horses will be doing come the time of the Oaks. “We’re trying to get them to peak in September, and that’s tough,” he said. “I have to maintain where they are at and keep it going through a bunch more races. That’s my job.” With Bonny South, he will also have to make sure the rust is off as she has not run since winning the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21. Owned and bred by Juddmonte, she’s a quality filly who might have come around in the wrong year. The Ashland is next.

6) SHEDARESTHEDEVIL (Daredevil–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats)

O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited & Big Aut Farms. B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY). T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $100,000 wlg ’17 KEENOV; $20,000 RNA yrl ’18 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo ’19 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: GSW, 8-3-2-2, $385,368.

Last Start: 1st AOC, CD, June 5

Next Start: GIII Indiana Oaks, IND, July 8

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 70.

The other top 3-year-old filly in the Cox barn, she’s been kept busy. Cox snuck her into a June 5 allowance at Churchill and she responded with a six-length win. It put her back in the mix after she finished third, beaten 13 1/4 lengths in the Fantasy. She’ll go next in the Indiana Oaks, where she will no doubt be the favorite. Like stablemate Bonny South, she’s got plenty of ability but must show more before considered one of the elite members of the division.

7) TONALIST’S SHAPE (Tonalist—Hitechnoweenie, by Harlan’s Holiday)

O-Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham & Legacy Ranch, Inc. B-Sabana Farm (KY). T-Saffie Joseph, Jr. Sales History: $45,000 RNA yrl ’18 KEESEP; $60,000 RNA 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 7-6-0-0, $357,425.

Last Start: 1st Hollywood Wildcat S., GP, May 15

Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, July 11

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 60.

She was easy to write off after a disappointing seventh-place showing in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. She came into the race undefeated but really struggled in what was her two-turn debut. She returned for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in the Hollywood Wildcat S. at Gulfstream, which she won by 3 3/4 lengths. Yes, it was a much easier spot but it was also a two-turn race and she handled that fine. “She came back and won and did it the right way,” Joseph said. “To see her come back and win like she did was really important.” Joseph said the Ashland is likely next. If so, it will be a huge test for this one.

8) WATER WHITE (Conveyance–Uzume, by Unbridled’s Song)

O-E.V. Racing Stable. B-Richard Forbush (KY). T-Rudy Rodriguez. Sales History: $50,000 yrl ’18 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 7-2-2-1, $270,275.

Last Start: 3rd GI Longines Acorn S., BEL, June 20

Next Start: GI Coaching Club American Oaks, SAR, July 18

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 64.

Once you get past the first six or seven, the prospective Oaks field starts to get thin. The third tier includes Water White. She entered the Oaks picture with a nose win in the Busher Invitational back in March at Aqueduct. She didn’t reappear until last Saturday in the Acorn. The good news is that she was third. The bad news is that she was beaten 19 1/4 lengths by Gamine. Might be better suited to easier spots. A $50,000 purchase at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale.

9) PROVOCATION (Into Mischief—Meadow Breeze, by Meadowlake)

O-Speedway Stable LLC; B-Betz/D.J. Stables/CoCo/Burns/Magers (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $160,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000.

Last Start: 1st MSW, SA, June 21

Next Start: To Be Determined

Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 0.

The Bob Baffert barn seems to have an endless supply of talent. Last Sunday at Santa Anita he unveiled another potential star in Provocation. The Into Mischief filly sold for $350,000 last year at the OBS April 2-Year-Old sale. Sent off at 3-5 for her debut, she led every step of the way for Mike Smith in an easy and impressive victory. The question now is whether or not she can play catch up. Breaking your maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs is one thing. Winning the Kentucky Oaks is another. Can Baffert get her there?

10) PLEASANT ORB (Orb—Pleasant Home, by Seeking the Gold)

O/B-Charles E. Fipke (KY); T-Barclay Tagg. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-1-3-1, $111,825.

Last Start: 2nd GI Longines Acorn S., BEL, June 20

Next Start: GI Test S., SAR, Aug. 8

Equineline PPs. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20

Pleasant Orb enters the picture after finishing a well-beaten second in the Acorn. The story is her trainer, Barclay Tagg. We know he has a horse for the GI Kentucky Derby in Tiz the Law. Might he also have an Oaks horse, albeit a longshot? She has a long way to go, but Pleasant Orb seems to be getting better with every start. She was third behind Tonalist’s Shape in the Hollywood Wildcat before her Acorn performance. Hard to gauge the horses that were trounced that day by Gamine, but a second-place finish in the Acorn is enough for her to fill out our 10th spot.

The post The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for June 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Racing Comes Together for Keeneland July Meet

There was a popular aphorism making its rounds through social media in the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Check on your friends in Lexington; March Madness and Keeneland are cancelled.”

It’s true, Lexington natives experienced a shocking few days early in March when the cancellation of Keeneland’s annual Spring Meet occurred just days after the announcement that there would be no NCAA basketball tournament.

And while racing fans were certainly disappointed that there would be no tailgating on The Hill or a sunny Saturday afternoon shared between 30,000-some attendees on Blue Grass Day, of course the ones who bore the effects of the cancellation were the horsemen and owners pointing their horses towards those few prestigious weeks in April.

Kentucky-based trainer Kenny McPeek, who ranks fourth among Keeneland’s all-time leading trainers by wins, spoke of his initial impression of the an April in Lexington without a Keeneland race meet.

“I’ll admit to being very disappointed that they didn’t have the April meet,” McPeek said. “We had over 50 horses scheduled to run there. It’s unfortunate, but it was the right thing to do.”

The sudden change in the race calendar disrupted the game plan for many trainers, especially those based in Kentucky, but Keeneland’s President and CEO Bill Thomason said that the horsemen with whom he spoke remained optimistic throughout the period of uncertainty for Kentucky racing.

“What I’ve learned in this business is that the horsemen are talented, but they’re also strong and very resilient,” he said. “Whatever environment they’re given, they’re going to make do and make sacrifices.”

In an effort to distribute purse money and continue the tradition of the Spring Meet’s historic graded stakes schedule, a plan for Keeneland to return to racing has been in the works ever since they were forced to cancel in April.

“We wanted to make this happen for our horsemen,” Thomason said. “The graded stakes and the black-type races are so important. We can’t look back in the record books and see those spaces blank for a year. It was unimaginable to think that we would not be able to bring those races.”

On May 27, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s race dates committee approved a plan for a Keeneland Summer Meet. The five-day meet, happening Wednesday, July 8 though Sunday, July 12, will feature 10 graded stakes.

McPeek is just one of the trainers who said he was thrilled at the prospect of racing at Keeneland in July.

“I like the idea of a July meet and I’d like to see them do it every year, to be honest,” he said. “I think it could be something similar to Royal Ascot, with those five great days of racing. Whether or not they’ll contemplate this in the long run, I’m not sure, but right now I’m thrilled about it. It’s quality racing and I’m sure there will be a lot of people interested, whether you’re racing or betting those races.”

The four GI races will consist of the Maker’s Mark Mile, Central Bank Ashland, Coolmore Jenny Wiley, and the Madison. The $600,000 GII Blue Grass S. and the $400,000 Ashland will both run on July 11 with the winner of each receiving 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, respectively.

McPeek already has several horses slated for these major races. Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who currently sits atop the leaderboard of 2020 Kentucky Oaks Contenders after a third straight graded stakes win in the GII Santa Anita Oaks, will be pointed towards the GI Ashland S. along with stablemate Envoutante (Uncle Mo).

“That’s as far as I’ve thought so far,” McPeek said. “But I’m sure we are going to run a lot of horses here.”

Swiss Skydiver takes the GII Santa Anita Oaks | Benoit

The full condition book came out on June 5, but the scheduling and logistics of this short meet was far from simple. Kentucky’s normal summer schedule includes racing at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, and Kentucky Downs.

“Ever since we had to make the decision to cancel the April meet, we’ve been looking for a spot in the calendar,” Thomason said. “We’ve been talking to Ellis and Churchill. We want to keep people safe when they come in to Kentucky throughout our entire circuit.”

Thomason said that this coordination of tracks might not have been possible a few months ago. “When we got together earlier this year and agreed on our Lasix phase-out plan, that was kind of a moment for all of us,” he said. “We all found an opportunity to sit down and do the right thing for the industry and for horse racing in Kentucky.”

Following the approval of the Keeneland Summer Meet by the KHRC’s race dates committee, Ellis Park general manager Jeffrey Inman said in a press release, “We are all in this together, and Ellis Park is pleased to work with Keeneland on a plan that benefits our horsemen and Kentucky racing.”

Keeneland also spoke with other major tracks outside of the Commonwealth, and Thomason said the association chose not to bring back a few of the normal April graded stakes races because they did not complement the timetable of other race meets running during their traditional dates.

“We talked with NYRA and our friends at Del Mar to make sure we weren’t stepping on top of anybody around the country. None of us can afford to do that anymore. We’ve got to protect racing in our country.” Thomason said.

With the dates and races now secured, Thomason said he believes this is the time to reset and look forward. “Now we can restart. Our racing in July will build to the Kentucky Derby, which will build to our Fall Stars Weekend and our October meet, and then all of that builds to an exciting Breeders’ Cup that we’re having this fall.”

With a resounding ‘fingers crossed’ from fans hoping for a grandstand filled with people in October and November, for now, Thomason said Keeneland is focusing on how to bring racing to the fans at home in July.

“We’re brokenhearted about not being able to have fans here,” he said. “When you think of the 250,000 people who could not be at the spring meet, at first we thought the reaction might have been a little worse. But the minute we announced that we were getting ready to have a July meet, everything we heard not only from the industry, but from our community was, ‘That’s okay.’ They were just so excited that racing was back.”

The Keeneland marketing department has been working overtime in shifting from traditional media outlets to bringing racing to fans at home.

“People are already planning their parties at home,” Thomason reported. “They’re planning their picnics and their outdoor activities with family, and they’re still going to celebrate the meet. We’re going to be working with all of them to make sure that it’s special.”

Thomason said he sees this as an opportunity to tell stories and give insight from the industry to fans and newcomers who might not have those chances to learn during a normal visit to the track.

“It’s going to be different,” he said. “But out of that, it’s going to give us a chance to try some new things, and bring some new things to our fans and our horsemen. We’ll see what works and what doesn’t, and we’ll come out of this better.”

A full grandstand at Keeneland | Coady

Certainly no one is more aware of these changes than the horsemen. Strict biosecurity measures have been in place at Keeneland ever since it has re-opened for training, and the grounds are on lock down for anyone except those involved in the care and training of the horses.

But Thomason said that everyone has taken these new protocols in stride.

“Everyone is taking it seriously,” he said. “We’re under extreme protocols that will keep our horsemen and grooms safe. Everyone is just happy to be a part of it. We’re so thankful they’re here and we’re working together. It’s been a great atmosphere on the backside.”

He continued, “I’ve been heartened by all the great support that we’ve gotten from everybody in the business, because they get it. They know how serious it is. They want us to get open, and they want us to stay open.”

During the period of downtime with no horses on the backside, Keeneland was at work connecting with the Lexington community as a part of the Nourish Lexington program. Last month, they kicked off a new initiative called Nourish the Backstretch.

“We have been a part of Nourish Lexington, which helps people in our community in need and children who are normally in school and couldn’t get meals during the pandemic,” Thomason said. “But we’ve extended this program to nourish our backside. We’ve made sure our backside was taken care of during this time.”

Thomason said he believes this was a key factor as to why the community responded so well with the April meet cancellation and the spectator-less July meet.

“Keeneland is a part of this community,” he said. “The fabric of this community. The thing that Lexington and this area is known for is the breeding capital of the world. We’re proud that we’re ready to showcase that again- not only to our area, but to our state and our country. We’ve worked really hard to be a part of this community, and this is when it shows.”

The post Racing Comes Together for Keeneland July Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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