Pin Up Betty Finds Higher Rated Success in Pucker Up

With profit Kentucky Downs With a meet just around the corner, Kentucky’s top racehorses begin preparations with a chance to earn an automatic invite to the second and final preview day at Ellis Park August 4.

Three-year-old mares will be in the spotlight on Sunday in the $400,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T) over 1 1/8 miles, the only graded event of the week.

Three Diamonds Farm’s homebred horses Pin on Betty entered as the 9-5 favorite and was the only ranked winner among the 10. The daughter of Structure liked Churchill Downs this spring, breaking his record by five lengths on May 9 before achieving a 1 1/2-length streak in the Regret Stakes (G3T) on June 1.

Coach Mike Maker has accepted the invitation. Aqueduct Racetrack to participate in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) on July 6, where she finished a respectable fourth with a record of 28-1.

The $349,365 earner will partner Preakness winner Jaime Torres for the first time in her Kentucky homecoming.

Mo Fox Givin always seemed to be right there at the finish line but couldn’t break through at stakes level. She looked like a winner on June 29 in the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs, but was nailed on the final jump by Dancing N Dixie .

Owner and trainer duo Gary Barber and Mark Casse have beaten Tomb Town The mare must have been impressed with her performance because they bought Mo Fox Given from Woo Pig Stables and trainer Ron Moquett since that start.

Female Grass Mile

One race earlier, older fillies and mares will have a chance to run in the $250,000 KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile Stakes.

Augustin Stable’s hombred Royal Kingdom won the Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) last year and will receive an all-expenses paid invitation to defend her title with a win on Sunday at Ellis. The 5-year-old Animal Kingdom The mare returned from a 7 1/2-month break on July 6 with a half-length defeat when finishing fifth in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff at Indianapolis Horseshoe.

Favourite on the morning track among the 14 horses running is Whitham Thoroughbreds’ home horse and multiple Grade 3 winner Fundraising walk who has proven himself dangerous when allowed to take the lead.

Sprinting on the pitch

The sprinters will be taking part in the $250,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Sprint Stakes and the race looks to be very even.

Hammer Time Stable and Sport of Kings Racing Partnership Coppola favored among the 12 on the morning starting line at odds of 3-1. After finishing 3 3/4 lengths clear of the leading sprinters Cogburn in successive starts, the son of Into mischief broke through with an easy 6 1/4-length win in the William Garrett Handicap off turf at Indianapolis.

Price seekers have plenty of opportunity as the favourites emerge in 11th place from 12, including a pair of attractive 3-year-olds who have won races: Bear River And Joe Shiesty .

Grass field cup

The preview will culminate with the 10th race of the $300,000 1 1/4-mile Turf Cup Stakes KY Downs Preview, which draws 12 runners and two other qualifiers to earn an invitation to the $2 million main event at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7.

Old Kentucky Home Classic Causeway has not won since a surprise victory at the 2022 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T), but is back on the turf for the first time since a tour of England last summer.

Allen Stable’s Siege of Boston third in this event last year, just half a length behind his first graded win on June 15 in the Monmouth Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Parkhelped him get favored betting in the morning at 5-2.