Rags to Riches Stakes

West Sunset (f, 2, West Coast--Vindicated Ghost, by Vindication) didn't let the Kentucky rain slow her down en route to a stylish coast-to-coast victory in a sloppy rendition of the Rags to Riches S. beneath the Twin Spires. Coming into the race with a neck victory over a fast main track at this venue Sept. 16 after being forced to close from the back of the field, she took a diametrically opposed trip here, immediately establishing a clear lead right from the jump. Well in hand on a loose lead...

Churchill Downs will host 26 stakes races worth $8.31 million during its upcoming September and Fall meets. The 14-day September meet, which runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 2, will include 11 stakes races worth a total of $3.36 million. The line-up is led by the $400,000 GII Lukas Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $300,000 GIII Ack Ack S. for 3-year-olds and up at one mile--a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the GI Dirt Mile--Oct. 1. The meeting also hosts the first races...

Sandstone earned her second straight open-lengths win under the Twin Spires with a wire-to-wire victory in the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Sunday. The dark bay filly  took the lead early was shadowed by favorite Yuugiri through an opening quarter in :24.51. Favored Yuugiri rolled up to challenge the pacesetter after a half in :48.55 and appeared to gain a slim advantage in upper stretch, but Sandstone battled back and powered clear to an authoritative victory. Freshened up after finishing a well-beaten fifth in her 5 1/2-furlong debut at...

Coach took her record to a perfect three-for-three with an authoritative victory in the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs Sunday. The dark bay filly, a 4 1/2-length debut winner sprinting six furlongs at Indiana Grand Aug. 10, romped home by 9 3/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs at that oval in a Sept. 15 allowance contest. Hustled up to keep pace with the early frontrunners, Coach was a tracking third down the backstretch. She strode up to challenge for the lead with a three-wide move on the far...