The Opening Verse Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Churchill Downs. A race on turf over a distance of one mile, it is open to horses of either sex age three and older. The race is named for Opening Verse, winner of the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, and was run as the Opening Verse Handicap from inception through 2008.
| Ungraded stakes race | |
| Location | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2004 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Purse | $116,500 added |
Historical notes edit
The inaugural running of the Opening Verse took place on June 12, 2004, and was won by Senor Swinger.[1] Owned by prominent Californians Robert & Beverly Lewis and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert, Senior Swinger returned to win the race for a second time on June 18, 2005.[2]
In 2013 and again in 2020, weather conditions were such that for safety reasons the race was switched from the turf course to the dirt track.[3][4]
Records edit
Speed record:
- 1:34.10 @ 1 mile: Crafty Daddy (2020)
- 1:40.41 @ 11/16 miles: Turallure (2011)
Most wins:
- Senor Swinger (2004, 2005)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 - Corey Lanerie (2012, 2017)
- 2 - Brian Hernandez Jr. (2016, 2020)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 - Bob Baffert (2004, 2005)
- 2 - Dale L. Romans (2012, 2013)
- 2 - Steven M. Asmussen (2014, 2018)
- 2 - Ian R. Wilkes (2016, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Robert & Beverly Lewis (2004, 2005)
Winners edit
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time | Win $ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gray's Fable | 4 | Luis Saez | Roger L. Attfield | Steve Goldfine, Kari Provost & Jeff Zlonis | 1 m | 1:36.22 | $96,722 | B/T |
| 2021 | Set Piece | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farm | 1 m | 1:38.26 | $54,126 | B/T |
| 2020 | Crafty Daddy | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin Brothers) | 1 m | 1:34.10 | $71,730 | B/T |
| 2019 | Siem Riep | 5 | James Graham | Ben Colebrook | Marc Detampel | 1 m | 1:35.07 | $68,776 | B/T |
| 2018 | Mr Cub | 4 | Chris Landeros | Ian R. Wilkes | Turf Stable Racing (Rusty Jones) | 1 m | 1:34.69 | $42,780 | B/T |
| 2017 | Pleuven | 6 | Corey Lanerie | Philip A. Sims | Nelson McMakin | 1 m | 1:36.15 | $32,993 | B/T |
| 2016 | Thatcher Street | 5 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Randall L. Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler, Amtietan LLC (Fred Merritt) | 1 m | 1:38.22 | $39,780 | B/T |
| 2015 | The Pizza Man | 6 | Florent Geroux | Roger Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.29 | $32,400 | B/T |
| 2014 | Regally Ready | 7 | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Vinery Stables | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.26 | $39,660 | B/T |
| 2013 | Silver Max | 4 | Robby Albarado | Dale L. Romans | Mark Bacon & Dana Wells | 1-1/16 m | 1:44.34 | $39,420 | B/T |
| 2012 | Guys Reward | 5 | Corey Lanerie | Dale L. Romans | Michael J. Bruder | 1-1/16 m | 1:41.98 | $44,820 | B/T |
| 2011 | Turallure | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Charles LoPresti | Four D Stable (Donna Arnold) | 1-1/16 m | 1:40.41 | $46,380 | B/T |
| 2010 | Tizdejavu | 5 | Jesús Castañón | Gregory J. Fox | Michael Cooper & Pamela Ziebarth | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.35 | $37,800 | B/T |
| 2009 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 2008 | Inca King | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Heiligbrodt Racing Stable | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.39 | $70,503 | L/R |
| 2007 | Therecomesatiger | 5 | Jamie Theriot | Thomas F. Proctor | Charles R. Patton | 1-1/16 m | 1:43.64 | $67,270 | L/R |
| 2006 | Rush Bay | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Thomas M. Amoss | Mueller Thoroughbred Stable, Ltd. & Phoebe Mueller | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.52 | $67,580 | L/R |
| 2005 | Senor Swinger | 5 | Brice Blanc | Bob Baffert | Robert Lewis & Beverly Lewis | 1-1/16 m | 1:42.07 | $68,944 | |
| 2004 | Senor Swinger | 4 | Pat Day | Bob Baffert | Robert Lewis & Beverly Lewis | 1-1/16 m | 1:45.82 | $68,758 | |
References edit
- ^ "Opening Verse H." Thoroughbred Daily News. 2004-06-13. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- ^ "Senor Swinger proves best in Opening Verse". Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal, page C1. 2005-06-19. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- ^ "Churchill Downs Race Day Notes for Sunday, June 2". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- ^ "Opening Verse H." Thoroughbred Daily News. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-01-04.