Saturday, September 20 2008

Kentucky Cup Day of Champions nominations released

FLORENCE, KY . . . September 19, 2008 . . . Nominations for the five stakes races that make up the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions at Turfway Park were released today, with 25 nominated to the $350,000 Classic (G2), the series’ centerpiece. The Kentucky Cup Day of Champions, scheduled for Saturday, September 27, is designed to prep horses for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 24-25.

The Kentucky Cup series holds particular interest for Breeders’ Cup hopefuls this year. With the Breeders’ Cup to be contested over the all-weather Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park, a test over Turfway’s all-weather Polytrack could help sort who goes to California and who goes elsewhere.

Friday, September 19 2008

Golden Doc A heads Weekend Delight

FLORENCE, KY . . . September 18, 2008 . . . Grade I winner Golden Doc A heads a strong field in the $75,000 Weekend Delight Stakes at Turfway Park Saturday. Eleven entered the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares three years old and upward.

Golden Doc A won the Las Virgenes (G1) on the all-weather surface at Santa Anita in February and followed with runner-up finishes in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and the Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland. She next was fourth in two Grade I races behind some of the year’s strongest fillies, including Proud Spell and Pure Clan in the Kentucky Oaks and Zaftig and Indian Blessing in the Acorn. After a three-month break she returned to finish fourth in the Torrey Pines on the all-weather surface at Del Mar.

Sunday, September 14 2008

Off Duty repeats in Marfa Stakes

Off Duty was on the job Saturday at Turfway Park, winning the Marfa Stakes for the second consecutive year.

Off Duty enjoyed a perfect stalking trip under jockey Larry Melancon and got the best of a stretch duel to win by a neck over Nakayama Arashi, who raced right behind the winner throughout the 6 1/2 furlong sprint. Native Ruler, who led the field through the first half-mile, laid down fractions of :22.19 and :44.27 before settling for third, another 5 3/4 lengths back. Final time was 1:16.08.

Georgia Ryon upsets John Deere Sprint Stakes

Florence, KY . . . September 13, 2008 . . . Georgia Ryon pulled off a major upset in Friday’s $25,000 John Deere Turfway Park Sprint Stakes at Turfway Park, as American Quarter Horses made their debut over Polytrack.

The stakes race not only was a milestone for Quarter Horses on the newest generation of all-weather surfaces but also marked the first time the breed had raced at Turfway in 36 years. The race drew plenty of interest from a large crowd on hand for the track’s Friday night activities, including a barbecue festival. As the Quarter Horses broke the gate at 11:30 p.m., fans were lined up six and seven deep on the rail.

Saturday, September 13 2008

Off Duty looks for Marfa repeat

Off Duty will try to repeat in the $75,000 Marfa Stakes Saturday at Turfway, when 11 older horses line up for the 23rd renewal of the 6 1/2 furlong sprint.

Off Duty was third last month, beaten less than two lengths, in the Grade II Play the King Stakes on the turf at Woodbine. He has faced stakes or graded stakes company in each of his last 10 starts stretching back to April 2007, finishing out of the money just three times. He has two wins and a third over all-weather surfaces and three wins in five tries at the Marfa distance. Off Duty won this race last year racing on the lead but more typically comes from off the pace. He breaks from post seven on Saturday, with regular rider Larry Melancon in to ride for trainer Lynn Whiting.

Thursday, September 11 2008

Jessluvchicks favored in Quarter Horse Sprint

Multiple stakes winner Jessluvchicks is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the $25,000 John Deere Turfway Park Sprint Stakes at Turfway on Friday, September 12. The race marks the national debut for racing American Quarter Horses on Polytrack. The sprint is carded as race 11, with post time at 11:21 p.m. First post Friday is 7 pm.

Jessluvchicks will break from the outside post 10, with regular rider Harold Collins up for trainer Ron Raper and owner Jeannette Hoover. A six-year-old gelding by Chicks Beduino, Jessluvchicks has five wins in his last six starts, including the John Deere Lexington Challenge Sprint Stakes at The Red Mile July 18 and the Don Boyd Memorial Handicap, also part of the John Deere Series, at Mt. Pleasant Meadows in Michigan on July 6.

Sunday, September 07 2008

Turfway: Delightful Kiss is Breeders’ Cup bound

Delightful Kiss is bound for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships next month on the strength of a compelling 1 1/4-length victory in the Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) Saturday. Because the race is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event, the striking gray colt automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park on October 25.

Breaking from post two and running to form, Delightful Kiss raced near the back early, with jockey Calvin Borel saving ground while Canela and A. P. Excellent separated from the field and vied for the lead through the first mile of the 1 1/2 mile course. Following their easy early fractions, :25.11, :49:55, and 1:15.50, Borel moved Delightful Kiss out with less than half a mile to go and urged him on. By the time the field turned for home he had rolled from ninth to third, and as they straightened into the stretch the race was his. Star Plus raced in mid-pack throughout and moved up for second. Dominican bid for the lead leaving the turn and stayed in to finish third, a neck farther back.

Friday, September 05 2008

Jockey James gets first win; 2nd NARA grad to win

Michael “Mikey” James became the second North American Racing Academy (NARA) graduate to enter the winner’s circle when he rode Lady Phoenix to a neck victory in Thursday’s first race at Turfway Park.

The apprentice’s first win came on the third mount of his young career. He finished out of the money on two mounts Wednesday, the fall meet’s opening night.

Thursday, September 04 2008

Fall Championship draws 10 for “Win and You’re In” shot

The 59th running of the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3), lengthened to 1 1/2 miles for its debut as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, has drawn a talented field of 10 for Saturdays’ renewal at Turfway Park.

Under the Challenge series’ “Win and You’re In” provision, the winner of the race automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, part of the $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita next month. Breeders’ Cup races that traditionally run on dirt will instead be run for the first time on an all-weather surface akin to Turfway’s Polytrack.

Thursday, June 19 2008

Turfway race added to Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series

The Turfway Park Fall Championship has been added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, a series of races designated as “Win and You’re In” events for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The winner of each Challenge race earns a guaranteed berth in the corresponding Breeders’ Cup championship race, with owners responsible for entry fees. With its distance increased from one mile to 1 1/2 miles, the Turfway Park Fall Championship will secure its winner a start in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, new to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2008.

The Turfway Park Fall Championship, which retains its Grade III designation and $100,000 purse, is scheduled this year for September 6, opening weekend of the Turfway Park fall meet. The race is carded for horses three years old and upward.