Kentucky Derby Day schedule, results for Churchill Downs races today
The Courier-Journal • • sports
Key Points:
- Stark Contrast, trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Flavien Prat, won the $1 million Grade 1 American Turf, finishing 8 1/2 furlongs in 1:40.31 and improving his record to 4-2-0 in seven starts.
- Bob Baffert's Crude Velocity, with jockey Florent Geroux, secured victory in the $750,000 Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs, covering the mile in 1:33.87 and remaining undefeated in three starts.
- Classic Q, trained by Mark Casse, won the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, overcoming a two-month layoff to claim the $1 million race and holding off favorite Portfolio Duration.
- Yellow Card, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Michael McCarthy, won the $600,000 Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at 9-2 odds, narrowly defeating Joe Shiesty in a 5 1/2-furlong race.
- So Happy became the new slight favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby at 5-1 odds, with Commandment and Renegade closely behind; The Puma was scratched from the Derby due to a leg swelling caused by a skin infection, leaving 19 horses in the field for the race starting at 6:57 p.m. ET.
