GI American Turf Stakes

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Moyglare Stud homebred Bellezza during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on GI Kentucky Derby eve. Siyouni's Bellezza Shines In New York Bellezza, making her American debut, waltzed away with the GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet on Friday (video). The daughter of Siyouni, trained by Christophe Clement, already sported a victory at listed level in...

The winner of this year's £100,000 Cardinal Stakes will receive an automatic berth in the starting gate for the $1 million GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard, Chelmsford City Racecourse announced on Monday. Scheduled for Thursday, April 3, the Cardinal Stakes is a conditions race run over a mile and open to three-year-olds who will compete for the £51,540 on offer to the successful owner. The race also offers prize-money up to sixth place, a refund on entry fees if declared and financial support for international runners. The American Turf was recently elevated to Grade...

Churchill Downs has scheduled 50 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $26,175,000--a $525,000 increase--for its 2025 Spring Meet, which covers 43 race dates between April 26-June 29, the track said in a Friday press release. The American Turf for 3-year-olds, annually staged on the Kentucky Derby undercard, had its purse raised to $1 million after the American Graded Stakes Committee elevated the 1 1/16-mile grass race to Grade I status. The American Turf is one of four Spring Meet stakes that received purse hikes for 2025 and one of seven...