Sahara Sky targets Churchill Downs Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sahara Sky, the winner of the 2013 Metropolitan Mile and three other stakes in the last 15 months, will make his next start in the $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Friday that the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes will serve as a prep for the $1,250,000 Met Mile at Belmont Park on June 7.

“He’s training so well, we want to give him a chance in the Churchill Downs race,” Hollendorfer said.

Co-owned by Hollendorfer and Kim Lloyd, Sahara Sky has won 8 of 19 starts and $1,140,680. Sahara Sky won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita on March 8 but was second to Dads Caps in the $500,000 Carter Handicap over seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 5.