Incentives galore for Churchill's opening weekend juvenile stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The twin 2-year-old stakes on opening weekend of the 11-day September meet at Churchill Downs might offer the greatest number of additional incentives of any races anywhere.

Indeed, there’s more at stake than just purse money for the $200,000 Pocahontas and $150,000 Iroquois, which anchor an 11-race Saturday card. Both races carry not one, not two, but three bonus attachments: Win and You’re In designations toward the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar; 17 eligibility points (10-4-2-1) for each race toward the 2018 Kentucky Oaks and Derby; and free entry into divisional races to be held at the end of the Churchill fall meet in November, the Golden Rod and Kentucky Jockey Club.

The meet begins Friday at 12:45 p.m. Eastern, followed by daytime cards Saturday and Sunday. Besides the Grade 2 Pocahontas and Grade 3 Iroquois, both run at 1 1/16 miles, the Saturday card also will include a pair of $100,000 stakes for fillies and mares: the Locust Grove at 1 1/16 miles and the Open Mind at six furlongs.

A conflict for area sports fans was averted when it was announced Sunday that kickoff for the Clemson-Louisville football game at nearby Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Saturday has been moved from 3:30 to 8 p.m.

A busy September meet also will include a Downs After Dark card (6 p.m. post) on Saturday, Sept. 23 and a trio of stakes on the last Saturday of the meet, Sept. 30. Racing will be conducted on two Thursdays (Sept. 21 and 28) with a 5 p.m. post. Closing day is Oct. 1, with Keeneland starting its 17-day fall meet on Oct. 6.

Entries for the 10-race Friday opener were to be drawn Tuesday, with Saturday entries drawn Wednesday.