Kentucky-bred runners will attempt to make their presence felt in Group 1 races this week during the prestigious Royal Ascot meet, one of the most heralded racing events in the world.

Classic Causeway kicks off festivities on Wednesday, June 21, when he will parade postward as the lone American in the $1.2 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1). Winner of last year’s Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, the son of Giant’s Causeway is owned and was bred by Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke Cooper Living Trust and is conditioned by Ken McPeek. Classic Causeway, who also owns wins in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), is produced from the multiple stakes-winning Thunder Gulch mare Private World. All told, his record is 16-4-2-4 and he has banked $1,441,000.

On Thursday, June 22, Kentucky-bred Big Call will contest the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) for owners Christophe Ferland and Flora Scott. The six-year-old gelded son of Animal Kingdom has been campagined in France where he captured the Prix de Barbeville Stakes (G3) at Longchamp in April and most recently finished third in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier Stakes (G2), also at Longchamp. Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, Copper Beach Stables, Grand Crue Farm, et al, Big Call is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Prettypriceygirl.

A 2017 Keeneland November Sale graduate, Big Call also sold in the 2019 Arqana May 2-Year-Old Breeze Up Sale. Big Call is a winner in six of 20 lifetime starts and has earned $324,252.

Kentucky-bred Big Invasion is entered in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) on Saturday, June 24, for owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Trained by Christophe Clement, Big Invasion captured last year’s Quick Call Stakes (G3) at Saratoga, and most recently finished second in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day. The son of Declaration of War has won seven of 11 lifetime starts and has banked $644,365. Bred in the Bluegrass by John O’Meara, Big Invasion is out of the winning Curlin mare Curls in Place. Big Invasion was a $72,000 graduate of the 2020 Keeneland September Sale where he was acquired by Taproot Bloodstock, agent, out of the Vinery Sales consignment.