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First Churchill Work for Derma Sotogake

GI Kentucky Derby contender Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) registered his first published work at Churchill Downs Wednesday going a half-mile in :49.60 (16/20).

With exercise rider Masatoshi Segawa in the saddle, Derma Sotogake went through his routine 25-minute warm-up in the one-mile chute prior to beginning his work. The chestnut colt exited the chute and began galloping around the six-furlong pole. He started to pick up his momentum around the three-furlong pole and worked through fractions of :13 and :37.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“I am really happy with how he moved today,” Segawa said. “He felt great. We didn't want to go too fast today, so I had to keep a strong hold on him throughout and even then he performed brilliantly. Now I can start to get really excited about Derby Day.”

Derma Sotogake, most recently winner of the G2 UAE Derby, is stabled in Quarantine Barn 1 next to fellow Kentucky Derby contender Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong). Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd., Continuar had his most serious training to date Tuesday at Churchill Downs when he picked up his gallop around the seven-eighths pole to about the three-eighths pole. The training was slower than a published workout, but noticeably faster than a routine gallop.

The special 15-minute training window for only Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Kentucky Derby contenders will wear a yellow saddle towel while Oaks contenders will sport a pink saddle towel.

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Kentucky Downs’ Mint Millions Worth $2 Million in 2023

The GIII Mint Millions S. will become the first $2-million race ever run at Kentucky Downs, as well as the richest American turf race outside of the Breeders' Cup, when it is run Sept. 2 at the Franklin track. The one-mile Mint Millions offers a base purse of $1 million, with another $1 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF). Last year, the base was $600,000, with a $400,000 supplement from the KTDF.

The Millions was one of 17 stakes–including nine graded events–that was unveiled Wednesday for the track's upcoming boutique seven-day all-turf meet. With seven races worth at least $1 million, the stakes schedule offers $7.6 million available for all horses and another $6.4 million in KTDF enhancements earmarked for those horses foaled in Kentucky and sired by a Kentucky stallion.

The six other graded stakes offering $1 million in available purses are the GII Kentucky Turf Cup, the GII Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, GII Franklin-Simpson S., the GII Mint Ladies Sprint, GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon. Those stakes, all carded for a blockbuster Sept. 9 program, will have base purses of $600,000 with another $400,000 available for KTDF-eligible horses, which reflect the vast majority of horses racing at Kentucky Downs.

“We are laser-focused on securing Grade I races for Kentucky Downs. Our 2023 stakes schedule is another step toward that mission,” said Kentucky Downs Vice President for Racing Ted Nicholson. “Our KTDF money allows us to run North America's richest two weeks of racing, including the potential to run more stakes worth at least $1 million during a meet than any U.S. track outside a Breeders' Cup host. But regardless of where horses are born, our base purses guarantee everyone runs for some of the largest purses on the planet.”

Ron Winchell, who with Marc Falcone are Kentucky Downs' co-managing partners, added, “We want the Mint Millions to be the pre-eminent launching pad to the Breeders' Cup Mile. Turf milers are among the biggest stars in Europe, and we're giving them a million more reasons to come to Kentucky Downs.”

Three other Kentucky Downs' stakes–the Sept. 2 GIII Music City S., the Sept. 2 Gun Runner S. and the Sept. 3 Dueling Grounds Oaks had their purses substantially boosted to $750,000, split evenly between the base purse and KTDF enhancements. The GIII Dueling Grounds Derby, also on Sept. 3, was raised to $750,000 last year.

The remaining six stakes will be worth $500,000, half from the base purse and the rest from the KTDF.

The overall purse structure for the meet is scheduled for $22.82 million–a track record for the 12th straight year since the advent of historical horse racing.

Kentucky Downs maiden races will be worth $150,000 for Kentucky-bred horses. And the track will once again offer a pair of $250,000 allowance races–one for 2-year-old fillies and one for 2-year-old colts–restricted to horses that went through the sales ring at Keeneland's 2022 September Yearling sale. Those 6 1/2-furlong races will be held opening day, Aug. 31, with all runners competing for the entire pot.

Kentucky Downs will run Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13.

The entire 2023 Kentucky Downs stakes schedule is:

All stakes are on turf and include Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements

Thursday Aug. 31 — $500,000 Tapit Stakes, 3 year olds & up who have not won a stakes in 2023, mile and 70 yards.

Saturday Sept. 2 — $750,000 Music City (G3), 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs; $750,000 Gun Runner, 3-year-olds, one mile; $2 million Mint Millions (G3), 3 year olds & up, one mile.

Sunday Sept. 3 — $750,000 Dueling Grounds Derby (G3), 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles; $750,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles.

Thursday Sept. 7 — $500,000 One Dreamer, fillies and mares 3 years old & up who have not won a stakes in 2023, mile and 70 yards.

Saturday Sept. 9 — $1 million Franklin-Simpson (G2), 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs; $1 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2), 3-year-olds & up, six furlongs; $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/2 miles; $1 million The Mint Ladies Sprint (G2), fillies and mares 3 years old & up, 6 1/2 furlongs; $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3), fillies and mares 3 years old & up, one mile; $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3), fillies and mares 3 years old & up, 1 5/16 miles.

Sunday, Sept. 10 — $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, 2-year-olds, mile; $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies, 2-year-old fillies, mile.

Wednesday Sept. 13 — $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint, 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs; $500,000 Untapable Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs.

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Keeneland, Ed Brown Society Announce Keeneland Placements

Ed Brown Scholars, Jordyn Elder and Jaida Alee, have been placed as student interns at Keeneland, and Ed Brown Fellow Timothy Campbell, Jr. has been placed as a Keeneland Library Associate as the partnership between Keeneland and the Ed Brown Society continues to develop in its first year.

Alee is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Equine Science and Management and Elder is on schedule to graduate with honors, from Kentucky State University in May of 2023, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Campbell is a December 2022 graduate of the University of Kentucky, with a Master of Arts in History.

Plans and preparations are also underway for the inaugural Ed Brown Race Day at Keeneland, scheduled for Apr. 23.

The Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry while creating opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience, through academic scholarships, development programming and professional internships.

“We are very happy about the strides we are making in year one of our partnership with Keeneland,” said EBS President Ray Daniels. “Facilitating these opportunities for Jaida, Jordyn and Timothy will undoubtedly further their journeys toward successful career placements within their respective disciplines. We are also looking forward to an exciting Ed Brown Race Day that will allow our supporters to enjoy an incredible day at Keeneland–one of the most charming venues in all of Thoroughbred racing.”

Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin added, “We are excited to welcome Jordyn, Jaida and Timothy to the Keeneland team this spring. Keeneland and Ed Brown Society share a commitment to create diversity among our industry leaders, and we look forward to providing more opportunities for people from all backgrounds.”

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Stable Recovery Gala Raises $60,000

Stable Recovery, a program based in Lexington that provides individuals in early recovery from substance abuse the opportunity to live in a sober and supportive environment and to train to become exceptional horsemen and horsewomen, hosted its first Spring Meet Gala at Spy Coast Farm last Saturday. The gala was attended by over 100 people and emceed by Scott Hazelton of FanDuelTV with music provided by Stephen Lynerd Group. A hybrid auction, along with donations, brought in approximately $60,000 for the non-profit.

“We wanted to put together an event during Keeneland's spring meet that would allow us to honor the sport and have fun, all for a good cause,” said Christian Countzler, President and CEO of Stable Recovery. “This money supports our program and supports substance abuse recovery but it also goes right back into the industry in the form of well-trained, careful and sober horsemen. It was also a way for us to honor Frank Taylor in front of his peers. Stable Recovery would not exist without his love and support, and we wanted to let him know how much

we appreciate him.”

Several current and former participants in the program shared powerful testimonies about how their experience with the School of Horsemanship at Taylor Made Farm and Stable Recovery had provided a solid foundation for their recovery.

Table sponsors at the event included Brook Ledge Horse Transport, Fasig-Tipton, the law firm Jackson Kelly PLLC, Spy Coast Farm, Taylor Made Farm, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and WinStar Farm.

Auction items were donated by Frank and Kim Taylor, Coolmore, WinStar Farm, Lane's End Farm, Taylor Made Farm, Godolphin, Jim Lowry, Tommy Yunt, Freddie Maggard, Jay Ingle, Ann-Phillips Mayfield, LiveWELL Training, Elliott Logan, Wei Nang, John and Sherry Servis, Geoff Dunn, Pat Day and Hank

Whitman.

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