Opening day of the Churchill Downs fall meet October 26 includes a pair of stakes races The Street Sense and The Rags to Riches honoring standout performers from 2007 Derby weekend at the famed Louisville track.
In 2007, Rags to Riches won the Kentucky Oaks over a sloppy track before going on to defeat Preakness winner, Curlin, in the Belmont Stakes. Street Sense, the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner closed from next-to-last with a rail-skimming move – his second Grade 1 victory at Churchill Downs. The Street Sense Stakes is a $58,000 event for two year-old colts going a mile on the main track. The Rags to Riches Stakes is offered at the same distance and purse for two year-old fillies.
In the Street Sense, Conquest Tsunami is the 2/1 morning line favorite for trainer Mark Casse after running sixth in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Cup Futurity at Keeneland. That effort is the lone defeat of the colt’s career after four wins at Woodbine. Far Right (5/2) is the second choice for trainer Ron Moquette after a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park last out. Before that effort, Far Right was a facile winner against maiden special weight company at Churchill Downs September 13. Far Right has one win in four career starts, and four second place finishes.
In the Rags to Riches, trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle the 5/2 morning line favorite Hopefaithjoy who won a maiden special weight race at Keeneland October 5. Pletcher also trained Rags to Riches throughout her career.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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