Friday Night Lights

Friday June 19, 2009 will be the first time Churchill Downs will conduct races at night. First post is set for 6:00, and the last one is scheduled to go off at 11:11. Hopefully this will allow the track to attract customers who are unable to visit or wager during the day. Similar tactics have been tried at Hollywood Park. I don’t know how successful they were in terms of the handle, but the quality of horses on Friday nights at Hollywood were usually lower. I hope that isn’t the case at Churchill Downs.

Ocean Colors is entered in the fifth race on Friday. She is the last daughter of 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors. She will be racing at five furlongs over the turf course for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shaun Bridgmahon. She is the morning line favorite at 3-1.

Another interesting entry is Grade II Futurity and Grade II LeComte Stakes runner Flying Pegasus. He will be racing at seven furlongs over the dirt for Ralph Nicks and jockey Robby Albarado. He is the 6/5 favorite. While I haven’t seen the PPs for the race I believe he is entering the race on a lay off and may have trouble with the distance. I’d probably stay away from that one, but he is a nice horse nonetheless.

I wish they would’ve carded a minor stakes race for the occasion. It’s not often you see something new happen in the 100+ year history of Churchill Downs. I’ll probably tune in to watch Oceans Colors and Flying Pegasus run. I can’t wait!