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Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes created for overseas Derby hopefuls
Canonero II, based in Venezuela, shipped to Churchill Downs to score an upset win in the Kentucky Derby in 1971 and remains the only horse based outside of North America to win the race. "The Kentucky Derby is naturally a compelling and exciting event, but the presence of international contenders always adds to the anticipation and intrigue surrounding America's greatest race," said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs and executive vice president of Churchill Downs Inc. "It has been wonderful to work with Kempton Park and officials of its owning body, Britain's Jockey Club Racecourses, in this innovative effort to encourage the presence of an international competitor in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. A consistent international presence in the Derby will strengthen worldwide interest in our race and, in the long term, boost demand for the event as we work to expand distribution of Kentucky Derby wagering opportunities into new international markets." Churchill Downs will provide $90,000 of the purse while Kempton will contribute $60,000. The $100,000 bonus, if awarded, will be provided by Churchill Downs. The owner of the KDCS winner will still be responsible for all fees associated with the race, along with shipping costs. The Triple Crown nomination fee makes the horse eligible for all of the American classics: the Kentucky Derby, the $1 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico Race Course and the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The race will provide an additional incentive to owners and trainers who in the past may have been hesitant to point toward the Kentucky Derby because of uncertainty over whether their horse would have sufficient graded stakes earnings to qualify for the field. European contenders, in particular, have been at a disadvantage because their racing season generally gets underway later than the North American schedule and offers few graded stakes opportunities early in the year. "The Kentucky Derby Challenge S. at Kempton is a great initiative created by both Churchill Downs and Kempton Park," said Dermot Weld, who saddled Irish-based Go and Go (Ire) to win the Belmont in 1990. "If I were to have the right horse for the job, I would most definitely target the Kentucky Derby Challenge S. at Kempton as a qualifying race ahead of the 'Run for the Roses.'" "I think the Kentucky Derby Challenge S. is a great idea and hopefully we will have runners in it," said Aidan O'Brien, the Irish-based trainer who has saddled 20 Group 1 stakes winners in Europe thus far in 2008. O'Brien's success in the United States includes three victories in the Breeders' Cup. "There has long been significant international interest in participating in the Kentucky Derby, but the current system that successfully uses earnings in graded stakes races to determine eligibility to compete has discouraged some international stables from pointing toward our race," Sexton said. "The unique structure of the Kentucky Derby Challenge S. purse will provide the winning owner and trainer with an opportunity to focus on a Derby bid well in advance of the race. "We've been gratified by the positive response to the concept from major trainers overseas, and hope the interest generated by a regular international presence in the Kentucky Derby will encourage other owners and trainers to look more seriously at a trip to Churchill Downs for horses displaying the potential to be serious candidates for the Derby and the Triple Crown races." The Kentucky Derby Challenge S. will be run under lights at Kempton Park. The race is an enhancement of a conditions race that was won this year by Campanologist (Kingmambo), who has since won the King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot and finished second in the recent York S. (Eng-G2) at York.
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