By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
A rich afternoon of class racing is underway on Saturday at the Kentucky Downs.
Five wealth-building stocks are on the agenda, and instead of focusing on just one, we’re taking a quick look at all five:
Circuit 8: Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (G3)
#1 Dalika (2-1) was the club favorite in the morning after a nasty win in the group stage Beverly DS (G1) at Churchill Downs last month. But the field Churchill plays very fast and seems to like horse speed, so I want to counter Dalika with #8 Princess Grace (3-1).
Princess Grace tracked the pace in Beverly D. and actually rallied to take the lead mid-round before Dalika fought back to win the half-length. This is a solid try from Princess Grace (especially if the pitch doesn’t benefit her) and a nice follow-up to her three-length score in the Progress Memorial. Doctor James Penny (G3) at Parx two started back.
Princess Grace beat Dalika halfway in the 2021 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and I’m optimistic she can regain her upper hand when she returns to the Kentucky Downs on Saturday.
lap 9: FanDuel Turf Sprint S. (G2)
Seems tactful #10 Totally the boss (12-1) won this race three years ago on a brisk pace track record, but he’s only run seven times since during a lengthy layoff career.
The good news is, Totally Boss is showing signs of returning to form. His first 2022 start comes to claimant the extended 5 1/2 allowance option claim at Churchill Downs, in which he unleashed a powerful rally down the gymnasium to score 1 3/4 length. He also produced a powerful late hit in the Twin Spiers Turf Sprint S.
Spanning more than six feather clippers in the Kentucky Downs would be a perfect choice for Totally Boss. If the pace is fast, I can see the seven-year-old boy rallying for a nasty win over the five-timer #12 Get Me Red (9-5), who was rated as the favorite after trying to finish second in the last Jaipur S. (G1) tournament at Belmont Park.
Race 10: Kentucky Turf Cup (G2)
#4 Arklow (7-2) has won the race twice and finished second twice with a good score, so the eight-year-old earns respect in his fifth appearance in the Kentucky Turf Cup. # 8 Gufo (7-5) was a question mark in his first Kentucky Downs foray, but he won the Sword Dancer S. (G1) in Saratoga and boasts three Class 1 wins in the Premier League. your calendar.
Arklow and Gufo are reasonable opponents, but I’m tempted to think outside the box and play #9 Who is the star (20-1). Run by Hall of Fame coach Mark Casse, Who’s the Star is 2v2 since the ground-to-court move, winning a $50,000 stipend for optional claimants in 1 1/4 mile race at Woodbine before returning to win in Niagara S. same course and distance.
Both of those victories were achieved with intense protests. Who’s the Star scored its allowance win by aggregating from the last dead into incredibly slow fractions of: 27.78. : 53.28 and 1:18.10; Preliminary estimates show Who is the star ran his last half-mile in less than 45 seconds. He was even more impressive in Niagara (for which fractional time was not recorded), achieving 4 1/4 lengths in just the last interval to dominate over half the length.
I don’t think we’ve seen the full potential of Who’s the Star. The Sire Tonalist won the Belmont S. (G1) by more than a mile and a half, so a further quarter mile stretch for the Kentucky Turf Cup could trigger an even stronger Who’s the Star performance. He came back with a 20-1 scoreline.
lap 11: Mint Ladies Sprint S. (G3)
# 10 Campanelle (9-5) is scary to beat after finishing third by less than a length in Platinum Jubilee S. (G1) at Royal Ascot, but she’s never run at the Kentucky Downs and has been beaten twice the previous time when reaching the final round of Europe -US transition.
#6 Heart Tobys (15-1) is an attractive alternative. She hasn’t been in her best form lately, but she was the decisive winner of 2 3/4 lengths of Music City S. on this course and 6 1/2 long distances last year. Tobys Heart occasionally delivers a powerful shot ahead of tough competitions and is able to return to her best at the Kentucky Downs, where 6 1/2-long sprints tend to play in the style of style. Tobys Heart’s tight running style.
Race 12: Franklin-Simpson S. (G2)
We’ll finally support a favorite team in the last race of the day. #6 Big Invasion (8-5) won six straight races with at least two long runs, including Quick Call S. (G3) and Mahony S. in Saratoga. The second race saw the Grand Invasion sweep from seven lengths out of speed to dominate by three, so the Grand Invasion – like Tobys Heart – has a running style that shines with speed 6 1/2 spans in the Kentucky Downs. Throw in hot jockey Joel Rosario, and Big Invasion looks ready to conquer.
Now it’s your turn! Who do you like at Saturday’s meeting at the Kentucky Downs?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cinematographer, voice actor, amputee, and horse racing enthusiast. A huge fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager the greatest racehorse ever made in America, but considers the Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
