It may have been a “swan song” for the Trifecta Gala on Kentucky Derby Eve, but the annual event appeared to go out with a bang Friday night.

After more than 20 years, the Kentucky Derby Eve charity gala welcomed its last room full of partying locals and celebrity VIPs.

“It is a bittersweet moment,” said party co-host Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, whose father, retired NBA guard and entrepreneur Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, was part of the group that first hosted the celebrity Derby bash — then called “The Derby Grand Gala “— in 2002.

“Tonight is a culmination of so many thoughts and visions,” she said. “It’s finally here. We’ve been planning, we feel, for this moment since 2002 to really celebrate.”

Bruno Mars headlined the party, taking to the stage just before 11 p.m. with a string of hits.

Mars’ vocals blasted out of the tent, bringing teens on motorized scooters and passersby to a halt to hear the 15-time Grammy Award winner belt.

After a three-year hiatus, the party returned this year, for a final time, with the theme “The Night of Roses.”

Held in various locations under a handful of different names over the last two decades, the gala took to the waterfront this year.

Temporary tents reaching more than 60 feet tall were erected just for the party in a parking lot west of Louisville Slugger Field.

Hanging installations in the large main tent included an abstract take on the Churchill Downs twin spires, floral chandeliers, and a horse sculpture.

This year’s charity partner was Big Brothers Big Sister Kentuckaina. Past funding recipients include The V Foundation, West End School, Dare to Care, and The University of Louisville Autism Center.

Television and radio host Kenny Burns served as the party’s master of ceremonies and Chris Tucker was emcee for the night, a delight for Kentucky Derby regular and television personality Star Jones who said she “wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

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“And quit saying it’s the last one,” Jones said with a wink. “I’m trying to talk Eden into a couple more.”

Three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith made his return to Louisville for his second Kentucky Derby and said he was ready to enjoy himself at the Trifecta Gala.

“Tonight I’m looking forward to enjoying what opportunity has behind this door,” he said. “I’m looking forward to Bruno Mars performing and doing his thing.”

First-time attendee Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke took to the red carpet ― which was in fact a floral pattern green carpet ― in tennis shoes after a long day at Churchill Downs.

“Even in the rain, it’s very pretty. It’s very ethereal,” she said. “I’m sort of on cloud nine right now.”

Other guests to walk the carpet included University of Louisville alumna and WNBA player Angel McCoughtry and former WNBA player Lisa Leslie, among others.

Just a few months off their Super Bowl win, Kansas City Chiefs players Isiah “Pop” Pacheco, Creed Humphrey and Mike Caliendo walked the red carpet together.  

Asked if he had a Derby horse pick, Pacheco cracked a grin.

“Horse 10, let’s do it,” said the running back, who wears the jersey number 10.

Bridgeman Skelnar said she was proud of the gala’s track record of “bringing the Derby experience to all, with a little bit more color.”

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4000 or on Twitter @mattglo.

Dannielynn Birkhead and Larry Birkhead are spending some quality time at the Kentucky Derby! 

On Friday, May 3, the father-daughter duo stepped out in grand style to attend events ahead of Saturday’s big race. 

“On our way to Barnstable-Brown Gala for the kick-off of the @kentuckyderby weekend,” Larry, 51, captioned an Instagram carousel featuring photos of himself and Dannielynn, 17. 

In the first image, the two sat beside each other sharing a seat while smiling for the camera. The photographer wore a gray suit set with a black tie as his daughter opted for an all-black look previously worn by Janet Jackson.

“Dannielynn is wearing her second @janetjackson outfit to the party that I got from Janet’s @juliens_auctions -charity auction,” he wrote of her attire. 

According to Julien’s, the garment is a “Gianfranco Ferre black dress that’s knee-length in the front and floor-length in the back and features zippers all around.”

Birkhead concluded, “Looking forward to a fun Derby weekend with the newly graduated high school student!”

The daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith lives a relatively private life year-round. However, each May, Dannielynn and Birkhead make it their mission to attend the Kentucky Derby together — a tradition they’ve had since Dannielynn was 3 years old. 

“Ahh The derby where you met her mama!!! I love that you’ve made it a tradition. She’s beautiful! You both look great. Congrats Danni! 🥹💞,” one person wrote in the Instagram comment section. 

For the 2023 Kentucky Derby, the teen wore a sunflower print dress designed by Leo Lin while posing for photos with her father — who coordinated with similar colors.

Other than their annual father-daughter outings, the pair are also known to be supportive of one another via social media. 

For Birkhead’s birthday in January, he joked about how his daughter snapped “really bad pictures” of him.

“#1-3) A friend took us to dinner for my birthday and Dannielynn continued her journey to take really bad pictures of me,” he began in his Instagram caption, alongside photos of himself and his daughter laughing over a meal. 

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And for Dannielynn’s birthday in September, Birkhead praised his daughter.

“Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever!” he wrote. “You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine. Your Mom would be so proud of you, I sure am.”

Before ending his post, Birkhead added, “Happy Birthday! Love Dad ❤️ By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida 😂 ❤️ #HappyBirthday 🎂.”

The majority of the 2024-25 Kentucky Basketball is finished, but there are still four open scholarship spots. For that reason, we’re going to see Kentucky kicking the tires on just about every available option that emerges over the next month to fill those final spots.

We’ve got a new one to monitor in the form of UCLA Bruins forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Per Jon Rothstein, Kentucky is among a host of schools that’ve contacted Berke, including Virginia, Ohio State, Louisville, Washington, and Iowa.

A class of 2023 signee out of Turkey, Berke was ranked 36th overall and seventh among power forwards in his class, according to 247 Sports. He’s represented his home country in international basketball competitions, including the summer of 2023 when he helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder played in 26 games (eight starts) last season, averaging 4.5 points on 38.5% shooting (29.7% from 3-point range) and 2.5 rebounds per game. He attempted 37 3s on the season, connecting on 11, so he’s capable of stretching the floor, something Mark Pope has put a strong emphasis on with frontcourt transfers he’s contacted.

Kentucky’s frontcourt is going to rely heavily on Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, and Brandon Garrison to hold down the fort next season, so Berke could be a nice option as a fourth big man who would be competing for an 8th/9th man-type of role.

Whether Berke is open to that type of role or wants heavy playing minutes at a smaller program remains to be seen, but we know Kentucky has some level of interest in his services.

Check out some highlights of Berke in action!

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