European Runners Dominate the Purses in Labor Day Weekend Horse Racing

European-based horses made a profitable raid across American turf courses over the Labor Day weekend, taking down several of the richest prizes on the calendar at venues including Kentucky Downs, Colonial Downs, and Del Mar, while domestic runners jockeyed for “Win and You’re In” berths into the Breeders’ Cup.

Big-Money Turf Races

Caroline St. Beat, stepping outside New York-bred company for the first time, rallied from just off the pace to take Saturday’s $3 million Grade II Nashville Derby by 1 1/2 lengths. Tyler Gaffalione rode the Miguel Clement trainee, who overtook pacesetter Glacius approaching the quarter pole; Go Grey closed from last for third while Irish favorite Causeway could manage only fifth.

At Kentucky Downs, Tiffany added to the international haul with a front-running score in Saturday’s $2 million Grade II Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational, finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear. Trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Tiffany covered 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.37, with defending Breeders’ Cup Turf champion Ethical Diamond second. The win earned a Breeders’ Cup Turf invitation.

Monday’s $2 million Grade III Mint Millions stayed overseas-bound as well, with England-based Haatem, conditioned by Richard Hannon Jr., getting up late to edge Lagynos by a neck.

Bottas, a Vekoma colt also trained by Clement, closed stoutly to capture Monday’s $1.75 million Gun Runner Stakes for 3-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths over pacesetter Conducted, running a mile in 1:34.55.

Other weekend winners included Lennox the Grey in the $500,000 Grade III Old Dominion Derby and Just a Touch in the $150,000 Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs, Seeyouincanada in Saratoga’s $200,000 Gio Ponti, Souper Forces in Monmouth Park’s $100,000 Red Bank Stakes, and Tomasello in the C$175,000 Grade III Singspiel at Woodbine.

Filly and Mare Divisions

Defending champion Stellify made every pole a winning one in Sunday’s $1.5 million Grade III Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon, drawing off by 5 1/2 lengths as the odds-on favorite. With Flavien Prat aboard for Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Justify mare ran 1 5/16 miles in 2:09.54 and is now a perfect three-for-three at Kentucky Downs.

Bless the Broken, on turf for the first time, closed to win Saturday’s $1.5 million Grade II Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf by a length over Buttercream Babe.

Elsewhere, Medoro took Del Mar’s $250,000 Grade II John C. Mabee, May Day Ready beat Miwa in the $500,000 One Dreamer, Dixie Law won the C$350,000 Wonder Where at Woodbine, and Storm’s Wake edged the $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks by a head.

Kentucky Downs, a key venue for these turf events, falls under the umbrella of Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN), which operates live and historical racing venues and wagering businesses across the country. Shares of Churchill Downs recently traded at $86.11, down about 1.1% from the prior close of $87.07, valuing the company at roughly $6.07 billion.

What to watch

• Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers in the weeks ahead as spots in the fall championship card are decided.
• Remaining Kentucky Downs meet races, where high purses continue to attract international entrants.
• Churchill Downs’ next quarterly earnings report, which will detail results from its racing and wagering segments.

Source: original release