The Opening Verse Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

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 The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incepti ...

at Churchill Downs, and was run as the Opening Verse Handicap from inception through 2008.

Historical notes

The inaugural running of the Opening Verse took place on June 12, 2004, and was won by Senor Swinger. Owned by prominent Californians Robert & Beverly Lewis and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee

Bob Baffert Robert A. Baffert (born January 13, 1953) is an American racehorse trainer who trained the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert's horses have won a record six Kentucky Derbies, seven Preakn ...

, Senior Swinger returned to win the race for a second time on June 18, 2005. 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.

Records

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 Corey James Lanerie (born November 13, 1974) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Based in Kentucky, he has been the leading rider at Churchill Downs, having won the most races during a race meet, 10 times. He has also been named th ...

(2012, 2017) * 2 -

Brian Hernandez Jr. Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. (born November 3, 1985, in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American Eclipse Award-winning jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in 2003 and got his first win on November 29 of that year at Lou ...

(2016, 2020) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 -

(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

References

{{Reflist Ungraded stakes races in the United States Open mile category horse races Churchill Downs horse races June sporting events Recurring sporting events established in 2004 2004 establishments in Kentucky