Stars & Stripes — America250 headlines Downs After Dark
Today’s Churchill Downs barn notes by the track’s publicity department (Churchill Downs photo above)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, June 17, 2026) – With only two weeks remaining in the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, racing fans will have no shortage of entertainment this week as Downs After Dark returns Saturday with a patriotic America250 celebration, Twilight Thursday honors local educators; and a duo of Grade I winners,Eclatant and Usha, square off in Saturday night’s $300,000 Chicago Stakes (Grade II).
The week’s marquee event is Saturday’s Downs After Dark: “Stars & Stripes – America250,” a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday featuring live entertainment both on and off the track. Gates open at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the first race is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The featured race on the card is the 36th running of the $300,000 Chicago Stakes (GII), a seven-furlong test for fillies and mares that attracted a competitive field of eight led by Grade I winners Usha and Eclatant. The Chicago Stakes will go as Race 9 at 10:11 p.m.
Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Eclatant is slated as the 6-5 morning line favorite in the Chicago Stakes. The 4-year-old filly enters the race after she edged Grand Job by a nose in the Madison Stakes (GI) at Keeneland in her most recent start. The Brad Cox-trained daughter of Into Mischief will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post No. 2.
Fellow Grade I winner Usha enters the race off a determined victory in last month’s Winning Colors Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs, where she defeated fellow Chicago contenders Zeitlos and Foie Gras. Trained by Bob Baffert for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law concluded her 3-year-old season with a 5 ¼-length triumph in the La Brea Stakes (GI) at Santa Anita. Flavien Prat will ride from post 5 as the 3-1 second choice.
The lineup for the Chicago Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Evanescence (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally, 20-1)
- Eclatant (Ortiz, Cox, 6-5)
- Lotsandlotsofcandy (Rafael Bejarano, Paul McGee, 5-1)
- Zeitlos (Brian Hernandez Jr., Steve Asmussen, 10-1)
- Usha (Prat, Baffert, 3-1)
- Beauty Reigns (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 12-1)
- Queen’s Martini (Joel Rosario, Ron Moquett, 20-1)
- Foie Gras (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker, 6-1)
The Chicago Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series with the top three nominated finishers earning partial credits toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Away from the racetrack, Saturday’s America250 celebration will feature live entertainment from country band Murphy 500 beginning at 5 p.m. on the Paddock Terrace Stage, followed by Louisville-based DJ and producer GudGroove at 8 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in red, white and blue and can enjoy specialty food and beverage offerings, a patriotic pop-up shop and a limited-edition America250 bandana giveaway for the first 500 guests who visit the second-floor photo opportunity area.
Earlier in the week, local educators will be honored with Teacher Appreciation Night at Twilight Thursday. Churchill Downs will welcome local educators to Millionaires Row with discounted tickets as part of the evening’s celebration. The eight-race card begins at 5 p.m. and includes $2 domestic draft beer, live music from Josh Loganand local food trucks Bamba Egg Rolls, Burger World, FlavaVille, HurriKanes and Ramiro’s Cantina.
Friday’s nine-race card has a first post of 12:45 p.m. and includes a 2-year-old maiden special weight on turf in Race 3 and a trio of allowance events in Races 6, 8 and 9.
Sunday is Father’s Day and there will be plenty of action throughout the 11-race program including two allowance contests in Races 9 and 10. First post is 12:45 p.m.
The racing week began Wednesday with a nine-race program that started at 12:45 p.m. The Derby City 6 Jackpot had a $70,777 carryover that spanned Races 4-9. The card also included a $169,156 carryover in the Jackpot 8 in Race 9.
For the latest information and to purchase tickets for the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visitwww.churchilldowns.com.
DOWN THE STRETCH – Entering the final two weeks of the Spring Meet, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had a 10-win lead over his younger brother Jose Ortiz, 46-36. Tyler Gaffalione was in third with 27 wins. Trainer Joe Sharp’s 18 wins led the standings over Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox, each with 15. David Jacobson led all owners with seven wins. … It was a busy morning at the Churchill Downs starting gate where Chicago Stakes entrants Usha and Zeitlos both schooled before galloping. Also schooling was Stephen Foster (GI) contender Magnitude. … Entries for the $2 million Stephen Foster on June 27 will be taken Saturday. The spectacular 12-race program includes seven stakes cumulatively worth $4.1 million. For more information and to purchase tickets, visitwww.churchilldowns.com.
