Isaac Murphy kicks off Derby Week stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The William Walker is the veritable tip of the iceberg of a Churchill stakes schedule that peaks next weekend with the blockbuster Oaks and Derby Day cards.

The Tuesday card will be anchored by the $120,000 Isaac Murphy, a 1 1/2-mile main-track race expected to get Ry’s the Guy and You’re to Blame as major players. Two-year-olds take the spotlight Wednesday in the $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile at five furlongs, while a pair of grass stakes, the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney and $120,000 Opening Verse, are the features Thursday.

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These are the undercard stakes on Oaks Day, Friday: Grade 1 La Troienne, Grade 2 Alysheba, Grade 2 Eight Belles, Grade 2 Edgewood, Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

These are the undercard stakes on Derby Day, Saturday: Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic, Grade 1 Derby City Distaff, Grade 1 Churchill Downs, Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, Grade 2 American Turf.

‘Zulu,’ Arklow get ready

A couple of standouts who missed the Grade 2 Elkhorn, won by Say the Word last Saturday at Keeneland, both are gearing up for action.

Zulu Alpha, a 2020 Eclipse finalist in the male turf division, is set to have his first work Saturday at the Trackside training center since recovering from a minor injury, while Arklow has been working steadily for Cox toward his 7-year-old debut in the Man o’ War on May 8 at Belmont Park. Likewise, Churn N Burn, winner of the Pan American on March 27 at Gulfstream, will ship to New York for the Grade 1 Man o’ War, trainer Ian Wilkes said.