Churchill Downs Saturday Stakes Advances

By Darren Rogers —-

BACKYARD HEAVEN, IRISH WAR CRY CLASH IN SATURDAY NIGHT’S
GRADE I, $500,000 STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

Triple Crown Winner Justify to Parade Before and After Race 3 from 6:45-7:15 p.m.

East Coast invaders and recent graded stakes winners Backyard Heaven and Irish War Cry headline a field of nine older horses that were entered for Saturday night’s 37th running of the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap presented by GE Appliances (GI) – the centerpiece of an action-packed, prime-time program at Churchill Downs billed as “Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser” that also will feature a public appearance by horse racing’s brightest star, unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Handicap is the richest of five graded stakes races on Saturday’s special 11-race night racing card that begins at 6 p.m. (all times Eastern). Total purses on the evening are more than $1.4 million, which makes it the most lucrative racing day for horsemen at Churchill Downs outside of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks programs.

Other stakes events scheduled on the night are the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap presented by Budweiser (GII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles headlined by La Troienne (GI) runner-up and multiple Grade II winner Farrell; the $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf led by last year’s champion Turf Male World Approval and two-time Grade I winner Divisidero; the $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles featuring romping Sir Barton winner Ax Man; and a well-matched cast of 13 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Regret presented by Cintas (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on grass.

The Stephen Foster Handicap has been carded as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m. NBCSN will televise the race from 8:30-10 p.m. to launch its 2018 “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In presented by America’s Best Racing” television schedule. Also, Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will air live coverage on 93.9 The Ville in Louisville and Sirius/XM 93 from 8-10 p.m.

Justify, who became only the 13th horse to sweep horse racing’s Triple Crown when he led every step in Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI), will parade before the crowd at Churchill Downs from approximately 6:45-7:15 p.m. Justify will parade in front of the Clubhouse and Grandstand as he walks over with the horses for the third race, which has a 6:56 p.m. post time (note: Justify will follow the third race entrants). He’ll then visit and circle the saddling paddock and remain there while the third race is being run. After the third race winner’s circle presentation is complete, Justify will visit the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle for a special ceremony for his connections – owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners; Hall of Fame trainer and jockey, Bob Baffert and Mike Smith, respectively; and breeder John Gunther – to receive their engraved Kentucky Derby 144 trophies.

All guests Saturday will be able to take pictures with the engraved Kentucky Derby trophies beforehand as they’ll be on display just inside the Paddock Gate from 5-6:30 p.m. Also, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free commemorative print of Justify that celebrates his Triple Crown achievement.

The public appearance by Justify adds to an already dynamic evening of elite racing, led by the Stephen Foster Handicap – the first of five televised qualifying races for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) to be held at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 3. As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the Foster winner will be assured a berth in the 1 ¼-mile Classic and his connections will have all Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered and receive a travel award up to $10,000.

Backyard Heaven, an impressive 4 ¼-length winner of the $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (Grade II), and Irish War Cry, the 4 ½-length gate-to-wire hero of the $300,000 Pimlico Special (GIII), are the 121-pound and 119-pound starting high weights. The field of nine features a threesome of millionaires – Irish War Cry ($1,252,060), Lookin At Lee ($1,126,245) and Hawaakom ($1,006,305). Two of those three comprise a trio of graduates from the 2017 Kentucky Derby: Lookin At Lee, who was second behind winner Always Dreaming, and 10th-place finisher Irish War Cry. The other Foster entrant who ran in Kentucky Derby 143 is Patch, the wildly-popular one-eyed colt who finished 14th in the “Run for the Roses.”

The Stephen Foster Handicap field from the rail out: Honorable Duty (ridden by Corey Lanerie, trained by Brendan Walsh, 118 pounds, 6-1 morning line odds); Patch (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher, 116, 10-1); Hawaakom (Brian Hernandez Jr., Wes Hawley, 117, 12-1); Uncle Mojo (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 114, 10-1); Matrooh (Santo Sanjur, Cipriano Contreras, 115, 20-1); Backyard Heaven (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Chad Brown, 121, 6-5); Lookin At Lee (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 115, 12-1); Irish War Cry (Jose Ortiz, Graham Motion, 119, 5-1); and Pavel (Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 117, 5-1).

Combined, the Stephen Foster entrants have won 42 of their 140 starts (30%), including 11 graded stakes events, and more than $6.5 million.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s up-and-coming 4-year-old colt Backyard Heaven is riding a swift three-race win-streak and looks to be the horse to beat. The New York-based Kentucky-bred son of Tizway surged past Derby winner Always Dreaming on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba on Kentucky Oaks Day to beat Razorback Handicap (GIII) winner and fellow Foster entrant Hawaakom (42-9-8-8) by 4 ½ lengths. He collected his first stakes win that day and improved his record to 3-1-0 and $334,240 in just four starts.

“He’s trained like a horse who will have no problem getting a mile-and-a-quarter,” trainer Chad Brown said after the Alysheba. “But one race at a time and we have to keep in mind he’s a lightly-raced horse for a reason: he got sick a few times, but he’s been a pretty sound horse. I’d like to keep him in good form, now, and not plan too far ahead. Take a race at a time.”

Like the Alysheba, Backyard Heaven will be ridden in the Foster by Irad Ortiz Jr. and will break from post No. 6 as the 6-5 morning line favorite. Favorites have a record of 36-8-10-4 (22.2%) in the Stephen Foster since its inception in 1982.

Among Backyard Heaven’s chief rivals is Isabelle de Tomaso’s 4-year-old New Jersey homebred Irish War Cry, who rebounded from a pair of early season defeats at Gulfstream Park to frolic home convincingly in the slop in the May 18 Pimlico Special. And in-and-out sort, Irish War Cry (12-5-2-0) regained the form that was reminiscent of his wins in last year’s Holy Bull (GII) and Wood Memorial (GII) and runner-up effort to Tapwrit in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

“It was definitely a relief to see him run well last time out,” trainer Graham Motion said. “We were very pleased of his effort and showed us what type of horse he is. I think drawing Post 8 should be fine with the longer run into the first turn. One of the things I looked at while considering the Stephen Foster was it being run at night. I think the cooler temperatures really helps this horse. I’ve felt pretty strongly about that and knew we’d always want to get him back into a Grade I. It’s looks to be a pretty tough race but he’s proven us he belongs.”

Like Backyard Heaven and Irish War Cry, five other Foster runners enter the lucrative race off victories in their last start.

David A. Ross’ Honorable Duty (18-8-4-1—$841,396), last year’s Foster runner-up to eventual Horse of the Year Gun Runner, was an easy five-length winner of an allowance-optional claiming race on May 20 at Churchill Downs in his 6-year-old debut for trainer Brendan Walsh. Last year, the Distorted Humor gelding collected graded stakes wins in the Mineshaft (GIII) and New Orleans (GII) handicaps at Fair Grounds and the Lukas Classic (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

L and N Racing’s 4-year-old Lookin At Lee (18-3-3-3) drew clear in the stretch to win an allowance-optional claiming race at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths on Kentucky Derby Day and snap a 14-race winless streak.

Calumet Farm’s Patch and JSM Equine LLC’s Uncle Mojo hail from New York under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, who hopes to add the Foster to his impressive list of Grade I victories across the country. Patch (7-2-2-1—$471,520), the 4-year-old son of Union Rags, made his first start of the year against allowance company on May 12 at Belmont Park and just got up in the final jumps to beat Chris and Dave by a neck Uncle Mojo (7-2-3-1—$125,020), also 4, impressed onlookers with a roaring 12 ¾-length victory over a sloppy track on the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico. The son of Uncle Mo is making his stakes debut Saturday.

Crystal Racing Enterprises and Contreras Stable Inc.’s Indiana-based Matrooh (23-8-1-3—$477,029), an 8-year-old gelding claimed for $25,000 at Oaklawn Park earlier this year, won the $100,000 Hanshin Cup (GIII) over Arlington Park’s Polytrack on May 12 by 2 ¼ lengths and hopes to parlay that synthetic success to the dirt at Churchill Downs.

Reddam Racing’s Pavel (9-2-0-1—$877,400) will invade from trainer Doug O’Neill’s California base after running fourth behind Accelerate, Dr. Dorr and City of Light in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita three weeks ago. A winner of the $300,000 Smarty Jones (GIII) last September at Parx, Pavel has finished fourth in each of his last four starts, which includes a trip to Dubai for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Meydan Racecourse in late March.

The Stephen Foster Handicap, which was elevated to Grade I status in 2002, has had a strong influence on the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors. Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their résumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012). Also, Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) completed same-year Foster-Classic doubles. Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012, and won the Foster the following year prior to a fourth-place run in his bid for a second Classic win.

Champion Victory Gallop owns the stakes and track record for 1 1/8 miles of 1:4728, which was established in 1999.

The theme for Saturday night’s Downs After Dark is “Art of the Horse” and guests are encouraged to dress in pastels and bright colors to fit the art theme and summer weather. Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and Louisville Visual Art have partnered to create a Breeders’ Cup Artwork Exhibit, which includes an opportunity for one local artist to be showcased as the Official Artist of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Five finalists will have their artwork on display in the Plaza on Saturday and guests may text to vote for their favorite.

The evening’s entertainment includes music on the Plaza Stage courtesy of Free Soul Effect and Mojo Flo.

Admission gates will open Saturday at 5 p.m. General admission is $10, box seats are $25 and reserved dining packages are $73. All ticket options can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted to the track unless they are accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

All onsite parking lots are expected to reach capacity early in the evening. Churchill Downs will offer free parking and shuttle service from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Green Lot A starting at 5 p.m. There will be free round-trip shuttle service throughout the evening. All Churchill Downs employees are directed to park in the track’s infield.

The final race of the night is scheduled for 11:10 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday’s forecast for Louisville calls for sunny skies with a high near 93. The low will be around 74.

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LA TROIENNE RUNNER-UP FARRELL LEADS COMPETATIVE FIELD
IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP

Coffeepot Stables multiple graded stakes winner Farrell leads a field of nine fillies and mares as the 119-pound high weight for Saturday’s 43rd running of the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap presented by Budweiser at Churchill Downs.

For the fourth year in a row, the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” stakes event, which means the winner will be guaranteed a berth in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

The Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol that is incorporated into the city of Louisville’s Flag – will be run as Race 7 at 9:09 p.m. (all times Eastern). It will be televised live on NBCSN from 8:30-10 p.m.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, Farrell (15-7-1-2—$916,377) nearly missed winning her first Grade I in the La Troienne on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs after tiring in the late stages to finish second behind Salty.

“We were so close in the La Troienne,” Catalano said. “I think the Fleur de Lis is a good spot for her. Obviously with the Breeders’ Cup here at Churchill Downs, in our backyard, if we win we’re guaranteed a spot in the race.”

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Malibu Moon completed her stellar 3-year-old campaign with a one-length victory in the Chilukki (GII) at Churchill Downs but had a bumpy start to her 2018 campaign at Oaklawn Park where she was eased and finished sixth in the Feb. 17 Bayakoa (GIII), third in the March 17 Azeri (GII) and seventh in the April 13 Apple Blossom (GI) prior to her runner-up effort in the La Troienne.
Farrell drew the outside Post 9 and will be ridden by Catalano’s son in law Channing Hill.

Chief among Farrell’s challengers are the 1-2 finishers in the May 18 DuPont Distaff (GIII) at Pimlico – Stoneway Farm’s Song of Spring and Merriebelle Stable’s Blue Prize (ARG), respectively.

Song of Spring (15-4-2-3—$228,643) rallied from 15 lengths off the early pace in the DuPont Distaff to nail Blue Prize (13-4-7-1—$486,193) at the wire at odds of 9-1 for locally-based trainer Neil Howard.

Song of Spring drew Post 5 will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. while Blue Prize drew Post 3 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle.

Also in the Fleur de Lis field is Reddam Racing’s La Cañada (GII) winner Mopotism for trainer Doug O’Neill. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly, who is based in California, will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez and break from Post 2.

The Fleur de Lis field from the rail out: Fuhriously Kissed (ridden by C.J. McMahon, trained by Tony Quartarolo, 115 pounds); Mopotism (Gutierrez, O’Neill, 118); Blue Prize (ARG) (Jose Ortiz, Ignacio Correas IV, 118); Streamline (Chris Landeros, Brian Williamson, 116); Song of Spring (Santana, Howard, 118); Awestruck (Irad Ortiz Jr., Rusty Arnold II, 115); Valadorna (Brian Hernandez Jr., Mark Casse, 118); Apologynotaccepted (Julien Leparoux, Brendan Walsh, 117); and Farrell (Hill, Catalano, 119).

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CHAMPION WORLD APPROVAL FACES MULTIPLE GRADE I WINNER DIVISIDERO
IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 WISE DAN

Live Oak Plantation’s 2017 Eclipse Award Champion Turf Male World Approval will face off against Gunpowder Farms’ two-time Turf Classic (Grade I) winner Divisidero in Saturday’s 29th running of the $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) at 1 1/16 miles over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

World Approval (26-12-2-4—$3,060,363) dominated the older turf division in 2017 with victories in the Fourstardave Handicap (GI) at Saratoga, Woodbine Mile (GI) and, ultimately, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Del Mar.

“It looks like a good spot for him,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He’s doing well and I’m looking forward to being there Saturday for the race.”

World Approval was originally targeting the May 19 Dixie Stakes (GII) at Pimlico but was scratched due to “soft” conditions of the turf course. The 6-year-old son of Northern Afleet began his 2018 season with a half-length victory in the Tampa Bay (GIII) prior to a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Frank Kilroe Mile (GI).

Divisidero (17-5-3-3—$1,177,950) was transferred at the end of his 2017 campaign from trainer Buff Bradley to Kelly Rubley and based at Fair Hill in Maryland. The 6-year-old horse by Kitten’s Joy is making his second start of 2018 following a runner-up finish behind Money Multiplier in the Monmouth Stakes (GII) on May 26.

The gray will break from post 1 under Jevian Toledo.

The Wise Dan field from the rail out: Divisidero (ridden by Toledo, trained by Rubley, 121 pounds); Shining Copper (Irad Ortiz Jr., Mike Maker, 123); Inspector Lynley (Jose Ortiz, Shug McGaughey III, 121); World Approval (Velazquez, Casse, 126); Mr. Misunderstood (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 121); Mr Cub (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 121); Flatlined (Corey Lanerie, Scooter Dickey, 121); and Parlor (Brian Hernandez Jr., Eddie Kenneally, 121).

The Wise Dan will go as Race 6 at 8:30 p.m.

The race formerly known as the Firecracker was renamed in 2016 to honor Mort Fink’s two-time Horse of the Year who completed a spectacular racing career with a perfect four-race season in 2014. The Charlie LoPresti-trained gelding by Wiseman’s Ferry compiled a remarkable lifetime record of 23-2-0 in 31 races with earnings of $7,552,920 from 2010-14.

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AX MAN SET TO FACE SIX RIVALS IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 MATT WINN

Hal and Patti Earnhardt III’s impressive Sir Barton Stakes winner Ax Man will attempt to land his first graded stakes triumph as he faces six rivals in Saturday’s 21st edition of the $100,000 Matt Winn (Grade III), a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Ax Man cruised to an impressive 6 ¾-length win in the May 19 Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico in his last start. The 3-year-old son of Misremembered has only one blemish in his four-race career when he finished fourth in the Feb. 10 San Vicente (GII) at Santa Anita.

“He’s a fun horse to have since he’s by Misremembered, who Bob (Baffert) owned himself,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. “It’s also special that he’s a homebred for our longtime owner Hal Earnhardt who’s been with us for many years. He ran incredible in the Sir Barton. It looks like he’s going to be a nice 3-year-old to have this summer.”

Baffert is currently tied with Steve Asmussen for the most wins in the Matt Winn with four victories.

Ax Man (4-3-0-0—$138,000) will be ridden by Mike Smith and break from Post 7.

Among Ax Man’s rivals are Calumet Farm’s Funny Duck, who rallied to a 4 ¾-length victory at odds of 39-1 in the Pat Day Mile (GIII) on Kentucky Derby Day for trainer Rusty Arnold II; Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton’s multiple stakes placed Combatant for Asmussen; and Tom Conway’s improving allowance winner King Zachary for Churchill Downs’ all-time leading trainer Dale Romans.

The Matt Winn field from the rail out: Navy Armed Guard (ridden by Alex Canchari, trained by Joan Scott, 118 pounds); Home Base (Joe Rocco Jr., Mike Tomlinson, 118); Funny Duck (Brian Hernandez Jr., Arnold, 120); King Zachary (Robby Albarado, Romans, 118); Combatant (Ricardo Santana Jr., Asmussen, 118); Tiz Mischief (Corey Lanerie, Romans, 118); and Ax Man (Smith, Baffert, 120).

The Matt Winn, which goes as Race 5 Saturday with a post time of approximately 7:57 p.m. (all times Eastern), was named in honor of the famed Churchill Downs president that served as the driving force in the development of the Downs and his beloved Kentucky Derby.

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THIRTEEN WELL-MATCHED 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES MEET
IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 REGRET

Hinkle Farms recent allowance winner Stave will attempt to win her first graded stakes race as she breaks from the outside post 13 in Saturday’s 49th running of the $100,000 Regret Stakes presented by Cintas (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The Regret, for 3-year-old fillies run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is carded as Race 9 at approximately 10:11 p.m.

Stave (4-2-0-0—$81,960), who will be searching for her third win in a row, broke her maiden impressively by 6 ¾ lengths at Keeneland for trainer Larry Jones prior to defeating a field of 10 in a first-level allowance on May 19 at Churchill Downs.

“We trained (Stave’s) mom (Buy the Barrel) for the Hinkels,” Jones’ assistant Corey York said. “The Hinkles are great people to train for and it’s rewarding to have her offspring show some potential as well.”

Stave will once again be ridden by Gabriel Saez.

Among Stave’s rivals in the Regret is Three Diamonds Farm’s Bourbonette Oaks (GIII) winner Go Noni Go (10-3-1-1—$163,606) for trainer Mike Maker. The Get Stormy filly most recently finished fifth in the Selene Stakes (GIII) at Woodbine over the synthetic surface but will return to the turf where she has two victories.

Go Noni Go will be ridden by Mike Smith and break from Post 12.

The Regret field from the rail out: Heavenly Love (ridden by Julien Leparoux, trained by Mark Casse); Consolida (GB) (John Velazquez, Paddy Gallagher); She’s Pretty Lucky (Corey Lanerie, Eddie Kenneally); Finess Bere (FR) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Bob Baffert); Lemon Princess (Alex Canchari, Joan Scott); Cash Out (Adam Beschizza, Rusty Arnold II); Go Google Yourself (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee); Beyond Blame (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Secret Message (Irad Ortiz Jr., Graham Motion); Kabella (Shaun Bridgmohan, Dan Peitz); Romantic Moment (Jose Ortiz, Shug McGaughey III); Go Noni Go (Smith, Maker); and Stave (Saez, Jones, ).

All fillies will carry 118 pounds.

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POTENTIAL $250,000 MANDATORY PICK 6 PAYOUT SATURDAY NIGHT
IF NO ONE HITS SINGLE 6 JACKPOT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY

Churchill Downs will make it a special night for bettors at Saturday’s “Downs After Dark” as the track offers a mandatory $250,000 partial Pick 6 payout on Races 4-9 if no one hits the Single 6 Jackpot on Thursday or Friday.

The Single 6 Jackpot carryover was up to a massive $450,841 for Thursday’s eight-race program. The Single 6 Jackpot sequence for Thursday covers Races 3-8 starting at 5:58 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granted Churchill Downs approval to payout $250,000 from the jackpot for Saturday’s 11-race card if there was a carryover heading into that night’s racing program. The remaining jackpot funds would seed the Single 6 Jackpot pool for Sunday, but all funds would be paid Saturday if there is only one winning combination that night.

Saturday’s potential $250,000 payout coincides with “Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser.” Admission gates will open Saturday at 5 p.m. and the first of 11 races is 6 p.m.

Saturday night’s Single 6 Jackpot will span Races 4-9 starting at 7:26 p.m. and includes five graded stakes races: Race 4, maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 10; Race 5, $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds, field of 7; Race 6, $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) for 3-year-olds and up on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 8; Race 7, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, field of 9; Race 8, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) for 3-year-olds and up, field of 9; and Race 9, $100,000 Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 13.

The Single 6 Jackpot, which debuted at Churchill Downs during the 2015 Fall Meet, is a minimum 20-cent wager with a low 15-percent takeout, one of the lowest multi-race wager takeout rates in American racing. The Single 6 Jackpot is paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool is paid out, and the remaining 10 percent is carried to the Single 6 Jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool is carried to the Single 6 Jackpot.

Saturday’s card also showcases an all-stakes Pick 5 on Races 5-9 starting at 7:57 p.m. There also will be an all-stakes Pick 4 on Races 6-9 starting at 8:30 p.m.

All told, there will be three Pick 5s (Races 2-6, Races 5-9 and Races 7-11) and three Pick 4s (Races 1-4, Races 6-9 and Races 8-11) on the night.

Both the Pick 4 and Pick 5 are 50-cent minimum bets.

The $1 Super Hi-5 will be staged on Race 9 – the Regret – and not on the final race of the night.

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BREEDERS’ CUP BETTING CHALLENGE QUALIFIER ON STEPHEN FOSTER ’CAP NIGHT

Some of the nation’s elite horseplayers will descend upon Churchill Downs on Saturday night and attempt to secure seats at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge as they pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer.

Churchill Downs’ Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge Live Bankroll Qualifier is a “real money” handicapping tournament with a $1,500 buy-in, of which $1,000 will be used by participants to wager on Saturday night’s 11-race Stephen Foster Handicap card with the other $500 going toward the entry fee and prize pool. Wager types permitted are Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta and Daily Double only.

The top two finishers in the satellite tournament will receive $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge seats for the Nov. 2-3 event at Churchill Downs plus a $1,000 travel voucher. The third-place finisher will receive a $2,500 voucher.

Saturday’s prize pool is based on 50 entries. All entry fees will be paid back to prize pool should more than 50 entries participate. Horseplayers can register by emailing Gary Palmisano at Gary.Palmisano@KyDerby.com