Frankie Dettori came to play on 11th September on the closing day Kentucky Downs met, won both races and demonstrated his European-style track navigation skills over longer distances.
The more profitable win of the bunch was the Dueling Grounds Oaks win worth $1,533,100. Kathynmarissa for coach Rick Dutrow Jr.
The superstar jockey had his mare in the middle of the pack in the early stages of the 1 1/2-mile contest after times of :25.05, :48.60 and 1:12.02. Bending his time, he pushed her out of the lead group and took the lead at the three-sixteenths mark. That’s when the 3-year-old began to lose focus.
“I was going to slap her. I slapped her but just as the stick went up in the air,” Dettori said. “I had to scream and slap her across the neck with my hand because I wanted her to focus. She got down on her knees and won.”
Finishing in 2:06.40, Kathynmarissa finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead. Mischievous Waves . European runners close deeply Siege of Troy fell behind in third place. Kathynmarissa paid $7.90 to win.
Finishing second in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) on August 2, Kathynmarissa won her first race for owners Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb. Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto, she is the 50th winner of the race to be sired by the 2015 Triple Crown winner. American Pharaoh who stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud. A three-time winner from eight starts, she has earned $1,147,185.
Video: Pepsi Dueling Grounds Invitational S. (BT)
Limited Liability steals the Nashville Gold Cup lead
The distance was even longer than a previous race, but you would never guess it by watching Limited liability entered the $440,000 Nashville Gold Cup Stakes.
Limited Liability Wins Nashville Gold Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs
Breaking strong, Dettori sent Limited Liability into the lead in the 2 1/16-mile contest after seeing a sluggish pace in the Cape Henlopen Stakes on Aug. 21 at Delaware Park turned against him when defeated by The Grey Witch at 1 and a half miles.
“He doesn’t have the ability to turn his legs, so I didn’t want to end up sprinting,” Dettori said. “I jumped forward, and he let me do it. He went very well with the fractions, at his own pace.”
The pace was comfortable for the 5-year-old gelding Kitten’s Joy, who ran :50.26, 1:42.41 and 2:30.89. Meanwhile, his rival and favorite, The Grey Wizard, dropped to last place on the first run before taking on the leader with just a mile to go.
Entering the straight, The Grey Wizard had no answer for Limited Liability, who was still riding when Dettori asked the question. He broke away to win by 8 1/4 lengths in 3:23.86, setting a track record. He paid $6.06 to win as the second choice.
Grey Wizard was the best of the rest, finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead. Cyber Ninja for Monday.
The home horse of Stuart Janney III, Limited Liability is trained by Shug McGaughey. Having placed in graded races seven times, the Nashville Gold Cup is the gelding’s first trip to the winner’s circle with the racing company. He currently holds a 4-2-6 record in 18 starts with earnings of $805,199.
Video: Blackwood Distillery Nashville Gold Cup S. (BT)
