Jennifer DeLaittre told
Wine Spectator. "We're excited to see how he does this weekend, but at the end of the day, it's all about enjoying the experience."
Expected to join Midnight Bourbon at the starting gate on Saturday are
Known Agenda and
King Fury, both sired by Curlin, and in the preceding Kentucky Oaks race, the Stonestreet-bred and -owned
Pauline’s Pearl and
Malathaat.
But Banke won’t just be represented on the racetrack: Jackson Family Wines’ La Crema brand is hosting a summer-long Sonoma Coast Experiential Tour of pop-up tasting rooms at four of the country’s biggest horseracing venues, debuting at the Kentucky Derby this weekend, followed by appearances at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. "Our winemaking reputation is built on a vision that through a commitment to excellence, hard work and integrity, you can accomplish great things,” said Banke. “Not only do we embrace these ideals as the backbone of our 40-year wine business, but also our approach to thoroughbred horse racing. To bring two of our greatest passions together on the global stage at the Kentucky Derby is monumental for us, and we couldn’t be happier to be partners with Churchill Downs.”