Kentucky Derby Card Features Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Among Four Grade 2 Events

Churchill Downs' blockbuster undercard for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) Saturday includes three other top-level races, all offering $1 million purses: the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1), Churchill Downs (G1), Derby City Distaff (G1).

Also on the card is the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2), the $600,000 American Turf (G2), the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2), and the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed) .

For an overview of the Derby undercard's trio of supporting Grade 1 races, click here.

Following are the fields and a brief look at Saturday four Grade 2 races and the listed event:

Evvie Jets Set For 2024 Debut In Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

The Estate of Robert Amendola’s Evvie Jets, w'sinner of the Ballston Spa (G2) before closing her 2023 campaign with a third-place finish in the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland, will make her 2024 debut against 11 rivals in the 39th running of the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) for fillies and mares.

The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the seventh race with a 1:56 p.m. (ET) post time.

Trained by Mertkan Kantarmaci, Evvie Jets is a four-time stakes winner and will be making her first start at Churchill Downs. Umberto Rispoli has the mount from post 7.

The field for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, with riders from the inside, is: Ag Bullet (Junior Alvarado), Walkathon (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Chili Flag (FR) (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Ascendancy (Rey Gutierrez), Cairo Consort (Joel Rosario), Delahaye (Tyler Gaffalione), Evvie Jets (Rispoli), Heavenly Sunday (Florent Geroux), Not So Close (Luis Saez), Infinite Diamond (Keith Asmussen), Coppice (GB) (Frankie Dettori), Mission of Joy (John Velazquez).

Nash Tops Dozen Entered In Pat Day Mile 

Godolphin’s Nash, runaway winner of the Hot Springs at Oaklawn Park in his most recent start, tops field of 12 3-year-olds for the 100th running of the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2)

The Pat Day Mile, run on the main track, will go as the 10th race with a 4:31 p.m. post time.

Trained by Brad Cox, Nash was a 10¼-length maiden winner at Churchill Downs last fall and followed that up with a third-place finish in the Gun Runner and a second-place in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 12.

The field for the Pat Day Mile, with riders from the inside, is: Carbone (Cristian Torres), Beeline (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Northern Flame (Julien Leparoux), Otto the Conqueror (Joel Rosario), Seize the Grey (Jaime Torres), Guanare (Chris Emigh), Who Dey (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Top Conor (Jose Ortiz), Frosty Indulgence (Adam Beschizza), Gettysburg Address (Paco Lopez), Tuscan Sky (Edwin Maldonado), Nash (Geroux).

British-Bred Legend Of Time Invades For American Turf  

Godolphin’s Legend of Time (GB), a winner of four of five career starts, headlines a field of 14 3-year-olds and three also-eligibles for the 33rd running of the $600,000 American Turf (G2).

The American Turf, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the ninth race with a 3:40 p.m. post time.

Trained by Charlie Appleby. Legend of Time has won all three starts this year in Dubai. He will be ridden Saturday by Frankie Dettori from post 5.

Topping the U.S. contingent is Red, White and Blue Racing’s Neat. Trained by Rob Atras, Neat was a nose winner of the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland on April 5. Rey Gutierrez has the mount from post 6.

The field for the American Turf, with riders from the inside, is: Twirling Point (Florent Geroux), Trikari (Umberto Rispoli), Lagynos (Cristian Torres), Formidable Man (Luis Saez), Legend of Time (GB) (Dettori), Neat (Gutierrez), Stay Hot (Antonio Fresu), Lord Bullingdon (John Velazquez), Noted (Joel Rosario), Set (Jose Ortiz), Cugino (Javier Castellano), Abrumar (Paco Lopez), Can Group (Flavien Prat), Agate Road (Irad Ortiz Jr.). Also-eligibles: Blue Eyed George (Luis Saez), Rock’n a Halo (Ben Curtis), Dancing Groom (TBA).

Mischief Magic, Big Invasion Set To Meet In Twin Spires Turf Sprint

Godolphin’s Mischief Magic (IRE), winner of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (GI) at Keeneland, heads a field of 14 3-year-olds and three also-eligibles in the 30th running of the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) presented by Sentient Jet.

The Twin Spires Turf Sprint, run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the fifth race with a 12:36 p.m. post time.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Mischief Magic comes into Saturday’s race off a runner-up effort in the Shakertown (GII) at Keeneland on April 6. Frankie Dettori has the mount from post 8.

Also expected to draw attention is Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Big Invasion. Trained by Christophe Clement, Big Invasion will be making his second start of the year after finishing 2023 with a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Joel Rosario will ride from post 10.

The field for the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, with riders from the inside, is: Candy Man Rocket (Junior Alvarado), Front Run the Fed (Umberto Rispoli), Coppola (Martin Garcia), Motorious (GB) (Flavien Prat), Mo Stash (Luis Saez), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (John Velazquez), Our Shot (Javier Castellano), Mischief Magic (IRE) (Dettori), Bad Beat Brian (Chris Emigh), Big Invasion (Rosario), Mister Mmmmm (Tyler Gaffalione), Arrest Me Red (Jose Ortiz), Eamonn (Paco Lopez), Cogburn (Irad Ortiz Jr.). Also-eligibles: Axthelm (Tyler Gaffalione), Panther Island (Julien Leparoux), Sketch (IRE) (Declan Cannon).

Best Actor Looks To Keep Churchill Record Perfect In Knight Go Overnight 

Steve Moger’s Best Actor, undefeated in two starts at Churchill Downs, tops a field of 11 for the third running of the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed) for 4-year-olds and up.

The Knicks Go, run at a mile on the main track, will go as the fourth race with a 12:04 p.m. post time.

Trained by Brad Cox, Best Actor has two wins going a mile at the Louisville track and comes into the Knicks Go off a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the New Orleans Classic (G2) in his most recent start. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 6.

The field for the Knicks Go, with riders from the inside, is: Strong Quality (Florent Geroux), Denington (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Collaborate (Edwin Maldonado), Pats Property (James Graham), Not Normal (Declan Cannon), Best Actor (Prat), Kupuna (Mitchell Murrill), Strava (Irad Ortiz Jr.), U.S. Army (Joel Rosario), Five Star General (Tyler Gaffalione), Oscar Eclipse (Jose Ortiz).