Churchill Downs is turning its Nov. 28 juvenile showcase into a breeding-industry contest, with eight Kentucky stallion farms set to compete in the inaugural Sire Power event during Stars of Tomorrow II. The golf-style, non-wagering competition will make the performances of eligible 2-year-olds matter beyond the purse and the program, converting the card into a daylong test of stallion-roster depth. Thoroughbred Daily News reported the format and participating farms.
Airdrie Stud, Claiborne Farm, Coolmore America's Ashford Stud, Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, Lane's End, Spendthrift Farm, Taylor Made Stallions and WinStar Farm have entered. Each paid a $10,000 sponsorship fee, with the entire $80,000 going into the awards pool. The concept was developed with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association as both a promotional vehicle for Kentucky stallions and an opportunity for farm managers, breeders and owners to meet during one of the most consequential juvenile programs of the fall.
The scoring is deliberately simple, but the carryover rule could create substantial swings late in the card. A winner earns four points, with three for second, two for third and one for fourth. Only horses by eligible stallions earn points for their farms; if a nonqualifying sire occupies one of those positions, the points roll into the next race. That means a result that appears ordinary on the track could build a sizable “skin” for a later contest, particularly if several top-four slots go unclaimed early. Eligibility requires the stallion to be registered with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund and to have stood at the participating farm during the 2026 breeding season, subject to special provisions for pensioned, deceased, moved or exported stallions.
The racing platform is substantial. Churchill's official fall-meet announcement describes Stars of Tomorrow II as a 12-race program restricted to 2-year-olds, with four stakes races. The marquee events are the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club for open company and the $400,000 Golden Rod for fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles. Each is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks and awards qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. Churchill reported that the corresponding 12-race card last year produced a meet-best $13.6 million in wagers, giving Sire Power a high-profile stage rather than a quiet industry-side attraction. Churchill Downs' fall-meet release provides the schedule and wagering context.
The Kentucky Jockey Club could also receive an immediate boost from the broader Derby trail. Churchill reported that Salahudin, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is under consideration for the race, with trainer Bob Baffert describing the colt as a large horse who “cannot stop and go.” The possible appearance of a Grade I-placed juvenile would sharpen the handicapping focus on the 1 1/16-mile test, while also giving the Sire Power farms a potentially valuable stage for their stallions. His participation remains dependent on the final decision and entries, so the competition's most important individual runners are not yet settled. Churchill Downs published the Salahudin update.
For handicappers, the innovation adds a second layer to the usual juvenile analysis. Trainer intent, recent progression and pedigree will still determine the likely winners, but the farm competition gives stallion ownership a visible scoreboard and makes every qualifying top-four finish relevant. With $360,000 in breeder bonuses also scheduled for the day through the Kentucky HBPA and KTA, Churchill is positioning Nov. 28 as both a major prep-race program and a concentrated sales pitch for Kentucky breeding. The first Sire Power champion will be decided only after the final qualifying race, when the points—and any accumulated carryovers—are counted.
