Good morning, racing fans! The action never stops. Last weekend was a wrap for the Triple Crown series. Congratulations to Tapwrit for winning the Belmont Stakes. Now, we can turn our attention towards the collecting of contenders for the next Breeders’ Cup World Championships as the Challenge Series is underway.
The 34th BC Championships take place, for the first time, at Del Mar Racetrack in California on November 3rd and 4th, 2017. There are select races, BC Challenge races, included in the “Win and You’re In” series that award an automatic berth into various BC races. Next, much like the Road to the Kentucky Derby, there is a points system in place to invite the best of the best. Points are awarded as follows: Grade 1 awards 10, 6 and 4 points to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners respectively. Likewise, Grade 2 assigns 6-4-2 points and Grade 3 grants 4-2-1 points. Finally, an expert panel also recruits contenders. Each of the 13 BC races have a field of 14 with the exception of only 12 horses in the Turf Sprint. Half of each field is composed of Challenge winners and top point gatherers and the other half is chosen by the experts.
Between January 7th and June 11, 2017 there have been 11 foreign and 3 domestic “Win and You’re In races”. Legal Eagle, It’s Somewhat, Top Casablanca, Bal a Bali and Satono Aladdin all have a spot in the BC Mile. Bela-Bela and Foxplay will enter the Filly and Mare Turf. Gold Dream has a berth in the Classic. Chautauqua has earned entry into the Turf Sprint. Kiriaki and Songbird will compete in the Longines Distaff. Ordak Dan and Voador Magee qualified for the Longines Turf and Mor Spirit will race in the Las Vegas Dirt Mile.
Today, Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY will host two “Win and You’re In” races along with 3 other stakes on a card of 11 races. On June 17, Churchill is hosting a South Beach themed party with live racing starting at 6 P.M. EDT. Race 5 is the 20th running of The Matt Winn, GIII. Next, race 6 is the 28th running of The Wise Dan, GII. Following, is race 7, a “Win and You’re In” race. It is the 42nd running of the Fleur de Lis Handicap, GII, with an automatic berth into the Longines Distaff. Then, race 8 is the 36th running of The Stephen Foster Handicap, GI. The final graded stakes is race 9, the 48th running of The Regret, GIII. NBC Sports Network will televise the races from 8:30 to 10:00 P.M. EDT.
The premier race of the BC is the Classic. The Stephen Foster Handicap will grant one great Thoroughbred an opportunity to compete in the BC Classic. The race is named for the famed composer who created such legendary songs as “My Old Kentucky Home”. The race was inaugurated in 1982. It carries a purse of $500,000 dollars and it is a race of 1 and 1/8th miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt for Thoroughbreds age 3 and upwards. In a handicap, the horses carry weights assigned for their official rating, by handicappers, based on prior performances. The best rated horses carry the most weight to try to level off the competition. The weight is comprised of the jockey, saddle and actual weights. At 9:39 P.M EDT eight horses will break from the gate at Churchill Downs. Who will win the Stephen Foster Handicap?
By post position/horse/jockey/trainer/morning-line odds/and weight, here are the the Stephen Foster Handicap entries:
- Bird Song/Julien Leparoux/Iam Wilkes/6-1/119
- Breaking Lucky/Luis Contreras/Reade Baker/8-1/117
- Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/Steve Asmussen/4-5/124
- Honorable Duty/Javier Castellano/Brendan Walsh/6-1/119
- Mo Tom/Corey Lanerie/Tom Amoss/20-1/115
- Hawaakom/Miguel Mena/Wesley Hawley/12-1/115
- Texas Chrome/C.J. McMahon/Allen Milligan/12-1/117
- Stanford/John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher/5-1/117
As always, I’m pulling for a safe trip for all and watching for that one historical winner. We will see that horse again in the BC Classic! Leave me a comment if you make it to my home state to watch live and party it up, South Beach style.
Share This: