Debutante highlights exciting weekend under the Twin Spires

Only two weekends of racing remain in the Churchill Downs spring meet, and

the next-to-last weekend of racing beneath the Twin Spires features a look at

racing's future stars in the historic Grade 3 Debutante Stakes, terrific live

music and another Sunday of Family Fun activities.

Saturday's racing spotlight will shine on two-year-old fillies in the 112th

running of the $100,000

Debutante Stakes. The six-furlong race is the first

graded stakes event of the year for the two-year-old filly division in the

United States and could reveal candidates for the 2013 running of the $1

million, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Ten have been entered in the race, including the Magna Graduate filly

Blueeyesintherein. The dark bay miss broke her maiden by 3 3/4 lengths while

going 4 1/2 furlongs at Churchill on May 31 and will keep Leandro Goncalves in

the saddle for trainer Garry Simms. Among her rivals are fellow maiden debut

winners Floral Sky, a Mark Casse-trained daughter of Sky Mesa, and

Richie'slilcowgirl, who will be trying a conventional dirt track for the first

time in the Debutante. The Cowtown Cat filly debuted at Arlington Park for Larry

Rivelli but will be saddled Saturday by trainer Steve Asmussen off her

five-length romp in that May 11 event.

Nine older runners will line up in the $73,600

Kelly's Landing Stakes one

race prior to the Debutante. The seven-furlong contest has attracted Grade 1

winner Noble's Promise, fifth last out as the defending champion of the Grade 3

Aristides Stakes, and Whiskey Rebellion, third under the Aristides wire.

The weekend celebration begins with twilight racing on Friday and another

edition of "Honky Tonk Happy Hours," with great music and drink specials from

4-7 p.m. (EDT) in the Paddock Garden. The Paddock Garden musical stage will

feature regional favorites Artie Dean Harris and Bourbontown. Admission gates

will open for Friday's Twilight Racing program at 1:30 p.m. and post time for

the first of 11 races is 2:45 p.m.

Churchill Downs' Sunday racing program will feature another edition of Family

Fun Days in the air conditioned comfort of the Paddock Pavilion.

Family Fun Days offer a very special Sunday at Churchill Downs for the entire

family, with attractions that include HorseRacing Bingo; Junior Jockey Club

activities; story time; a walking tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum to visit

with Winston, its resident miniature horse; and more. Sunday's run includes a

special performance by the Mexico Lindo Dancers at 2:30 p.m.

Family Fun Days activities are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the

Paddock Pavilion on Sundays throughout the meet. More information on Family Fun

Days is available at

www.ChurchillDowns.com.

Post time for Sunday's racing at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m. Admission

gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Seating, dining and tickets for Churchill Downs racing and special events may

be purchased through the track's

online box

office or by calling 502-636-4400. Tickets may also be purchased at

Churchill Downs' on-track box office, located at Gate 1 off Central Avenue. The

on-track box office is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,

with the exception of Friday hours of noon to 6 p.m.

Next week's closing weekend of spring meet racing will feature "Downs After

Dark" night racing on June 30. This special evening under the lights beneath the

historic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs will feature the return of the "White

Party" theme and the 11th running of the Grade 3, $100,000Bashford Manor Stakes,

an early prep for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs' on-track box office will be open on June 30 from noon to 9

p.m. for the season's final "Downs After Dark" celebration.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com