Ballysax Added to European Road to the Kentucky Derby

Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
The 2019 Ballysax Stakes was won by Coolmore's Broome

The Ballysax Stakes (G3) has been added to the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, according to a June 11 release from Churchill Downs.

Horse Racing Ireland, the national authority for Thoroughbred racing in Ireland, worked to transfer the Ballysax from Leopardstown to Dundalk Racecourse. The 1 5/16-mile race for 3-year-olds will be staged July 12 over Dundalk's all-weather surface. 

Qualifying points will be awarded to the top four runners on a 30-12-6-3 scale.

"We're very appreciative of the cooperation shown by the HRI, Leopardstown and Dundalk Racecourse to assist our efforts with the European Road to the Kentucky Derby," said Mike Ziegler, executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc.

The 2019 edition of the Ballysax was won by Coolmore's Broome, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. O'Brien and Coolmore also won the 2018 running with Nelson, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien. O'Brien has won nine editions of the race overall.

Six races on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, which carves out a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate for a horse from Europe, have been run. Four Triple Crown nominees have accrued points in the series: Royal Dornoch (10), Choice of Mine (8), Shekhem (4), and New World Tapestry (4).

The 146th running of the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) was rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.