At $150.000, the purse for the Heavenly Prize could be more heavenly, but it is still a nice offering for this ungraded stake that runs for the seventh time. It would debut in 2017, but has not been run every year, and for a little while, it seemed like it might be in jeopardy of not filling this year as well.
STAKES ARTICLES
All the Stakes previews and reviews.
Small Field of Five for The Lightning City Stakes at TAM
2/22/2025 8 TAM The Lightning City Stakes $125.000 5f Turf 4yo&Up F&M 122lbs Abbreviated field, abbreviated distance, but I’m glad we were able to get this one to go… A field of five females… Read More ›
The Razorback Handicap Is Sure to Entertain as the Older Horses Do Battle
The Razorback Handicap – Grade III OP Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded StakePurse $500.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward. These handicaps are always interesting, not because a 6Lb spread in the weights should make any difference, but because… Read More ›
Don’t Miss The Confident Elegance and Soliloquy Sunset Rematch in The Honeybee
Last Saturday, the Alexandra kicked off the 50-point races for the KYO, and now all eyes will be at OP on Saturday as the 19th running of the Honeybee takes place for the second 50-pointer of the season. To celebrate, OP has raised the purse this year to $500.000, up $100.000 from where it was last year, and that too, was a $100.000 increase over the prior year.
Tough Field in Cincinnati Trophy Stakes
Cincinnati Trophy Stakes [KYO] TP Race #2 1m Dirt StakePurse $175.000 For Fillies Three Years Old. 1 Intimate Team 7 Illusions Corrales G 122 — Team 7 Illusions hit the jackpot with the draw monster here with the two inside… Read More ›
Daemon Looks to Make It Five in a Row as Rebel Has Big Field and Big Purse
2/22/2025 3 OP The Rebel (GII) [KYD] $1,250.000 11/16th Mile Dirt 3yo 122lbs The interest grows, the field grows, the purse grows… and it’s only February. The chocolates are eaten, the… Read More ›
TC Trail Goes to TP for Battaglia
2/22/2025 3 TP Battaglia Memorial Stakes [KYD] $175.000 11/16th Mile Dirt 3yo 122lbs The Road to Louisville continues and we will obviously have a full gate for the Battaglia, a mile and a sixteenth… Read More ›
Darrow Holds Off Late Charging Foes to Take SUN Derby for Mb
2/8/2025 8 SUN SUN Derby (GIII) [KYD] $400.000 11/16th Mile Dirt 3yo 120lbs Hey, hey… we hit the $108 exacta – The Card had it straight, no box needed. When you get on… Read More ›
Credit Crime Takes Alexandra Stakes in Style
Alexandra Stakes – Grade II [KYO] 1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Filly 3 Year Olds. 1st Credit Crime Aer Stables Ortiz I Jr The early pace here was solid, maybe a tick above average but the sort of… Read More ›
That Was Close! Almighwar Upsets Palos Verdes Stakes in Tight Finish
2/15/2025 6 SA Palos Verdes Stakes (GIII) $100.000 6f Dirt 4yo&Up 123lbs +penalties Another race that we miss from a handicapping standpoint, but with a $70.20 winner, I’m guessing a… Read More ›