Churchill Program to Feature Only 2-Year-Olds

Churchill Downs will bow to youth Nov. 5 when it cards its first "Stars of Tomorrow" program--all the races in the condition book are for 2-year-olds, including two grade III stakes.

Of the nine overnight races in the condition book, four are allowance events, four are maiden special weight events, and one is a $50,000-$45,000 claiming test. Overnight purses total $422,900.

The two stakes are the $100,000 Iroquois for 2-year-olds at one mile, and the $100,000 Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies at one mile.

"The racing office tried to play to one of our strengths, which is 2-year-old racing in the fall," said John Asher, vice president of communications for Churchill. "So many promising 2-year-olds are on the grounds, we decide to dedicate a whole day to them. We'll see how it works out."

Two $50,600 allowance events--one for colts and one for fillies--are carded for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Even a substitute race, a $50,000-$45,000 claiming event, is for 2-year-old fillies.

Asher said the Iroquois is expected to attract the highly regarded Flanders Fields (by A.P Indy), who won a Belmont Park maiden test by 6 1/2 lengths for owner Overbrook Farm and trainer Dallas Stewart.