GRADE III WINNING COLORS HERO MISS KENTUCKY TOPS SATURDAY’S ROXELANA

By Darren Rogers —-

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, June 20, 2018) – Preston Madden’s Winning Colors (Grade III) victor Miss Kentucky tops a field of seven fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday’s $70,000-added Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The six-furlong Roxelana, named for the crack female sprinter who won seven of 11 starts and earned $264,726 between 2000-03 for trainer William “Blackie” Huffman, is carded as Race 10 of 11 on Saturday’s program with a scheduled post time of 5:26 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first race Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Rusty Arnold II, Miss Kentucky won the $100,000 Winning Colors (GIII) at Churchill Downs on May 26 by three-quarters of a length while battling on the lead for most of the race to hold off a late charge from Treble.

Miss Kentucky (12-5-1-0—$213,522), a 4-year-old filly by Blame, has been consistent in her four-race 2018 campaign with three victories and only one defeat – a sixth-place finish in an allowance race at Keeneland.

Churchill Downs leading rider Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount on Miss Kentucky and will break from post No. 7.

Chief among Miss Kentucky’s challengers is Kirk and Judy Robison’s multiple graded stakes winner Vertical Oak for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The daughter of Giant Oak is scheduled to make just her third start of the year following a 1 ½-length win in the May 18 Skipat Stakes at Pimlico.

Vertical Oak (15-6-2-2—$521,700) was victorious in the Miss Preakness Stakes (GIII) and Prioress (GII) in 2017. The 4-year-old will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and break from post No. 3.

The field for the Roxelana from the rail out: Mytical Tale (ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, trained by Brad Cox, 122 pounds); Golden Domer (Corey Lanerie, Brendan Walsh, 122); Vertical Oak (Santana, Asmussen, 122); Julerette (Julien Leparoux, Ben Colebrook, 122); Annathela (Jack Gilligan, Arnold, 122); Astrollinthepark (Florent Geroux, Larry Jones, 122); Miss Kentucky (Hernandez, Arnold, 124).

Churchill Downs admission gates will open Saturday at 11:30 a.m. General Admission is $3, reserved seating is $10 and reserved dining packages are $39. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

With just seven days remaining in the 2018 Spring Meet, Churchill Downs will have a four-day week of racing (with first race post time, number of races): Thursday (5 p.m., 8 races), Friday (12:45 p.m., 9 races), Saturday (12:45 p.m., 11 races) and Sunday (12:45 p.m., 10 races).

The Twilight Thursday abbreviated eight-race program is highlighted by $1 draft beers, live music on the Plaza stages by band Bendigo Fletcher, food trucks and lawn games.

Sunday is Family Adventure Day presented by Kroger. In partnership with the Louisville Sports Commission, this Family Adventure Day encourages kids to seek out healthy, active outdoor activities and embrace local parks, forests and other public lands. There are more than 20 activities children under 12 can enjoy. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

Cover Photo; Miss Kentucky; Churchill Downs/Coady Photography