Long-distance turf runners will be among the features during Kentucky Downs' United States Open Turf Championships Sept. 7, with the runners in the $2 million Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) competing for an automatic berth to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 2 as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
Trainer Brian Lynch hopes to capture that free spot by entering two runners in the field of 11. Highway Robber and Anglophile both prepped in the 1 1/4-mile KY Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 4, finishing first and third, respectively.
Video: KY Downs Preview Turf Cup S. (BT)
"I wouldn't change spots with anybody," Lynch said. "Both of these horses are doing as good as we can get them."
Jim and Susan Hill's Highway Robber enters off his career-best effort, earning a 112 Equibase Speed Figure in his first crack at 1 1/4 miles. Lynch said he's looking forward to testing the 4-year-old gelding over the 1 1/2-mile distance.
"I think he'll stay that route of ground," Lynch said. "The way he handled the mile and a quarter and the fact he's out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare (Yabba)—I think it's in his pedigree, being by Hard Spun, that he'll stay the trip."
LFG Racing's Anglophile has had more marathon experience than his stablemate and is one of only three horses in the field who can boast a victory over the course, in last year's 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Derby (G3T).
"That means a lot when they won over that course," Lynch said.
Lynch envisions the pace could be quick, setting up for the 4-year-old English Channel gelding's late charge.
Among those pacesetters will likely be the defending winner of this race, Get Smokin. The Mark Casse-trained Get Stormy gelding held on by a nose to go gate to wire in the United Nations Stakes (G2T) at Monmouth Park July 20.
Favored at 8-5 is West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration, a two-time graded stakes winner last seen finishing second in the Aug. 11 Arlington Million Stakes (G1T) at Colonial Downs.
Aidan O'Brien teams up with jockey Frankie Dettori with the 3-year-old Galileo colt Chief Little Rock, a group 3 winner in Ireland and third to recent Nashville Derby (G3T) winner Bellum Justum at Epsom Downs in April.
Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 7, 2024, Race 10Entries: FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Highway Robber (KY) Jareth Loveberry 124 Brian A. Lynch 6/1 2 2Integration (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 124 Claude R. McGaughey III 8/5 3 3Cathkin Peak (IRE) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Michael J. Maker 15/1 4 4Get Smokin (KY) Fernando De La Cruz 124 Mark E. Casse 12/1 5 5Sugoi (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Michael J. Maker 20/1 6 6King Curlin (KY) Christopher A. Emigh 124 Brittany A. Vanden Berg 30/1 7 7Tawny Port (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Christophe Clement 8/1 8 8Balladeer (KY) Florent Geroux 122 George Papaprodromou 20/1 9 9Anglophile (KY) Declan Cannon 122 Brian A. Lynch 10/1 10 10Grand Sonata (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Todd A. Pletcher 12/1 11 11Chief Little Rock (IRE) Lanfranco Dettori 118 Aidan P. O'Brien 4/1
Vergara, Chop Chop Meet Again in Ladies Marathon
The fillies and mares also get a chance to stretch their legs over a route of ground Saturday in the $2 million Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T). Although their race is not part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the winner's pre-entry and entry fees to a championship race will be paid by Kentucky Downs should she qualify to run.
Gary Broad's Vergara is back to defend her title, but has been winless in five starts since. However, she's 2-for-2 over the unique course for trainer Graham Motion.
In her last three starts, she has finished behind Selective's Chop Chop, who returns to Kentucky Downs for the first time since winning the 2022 Juvenile Fillies Stakes, the second start of her career.
"We zeroed in on this spot," trainer Brad Cox said. "It gives you confidence when they've performed well (at Kentucky Downs) in the past."
The City of Light filly will cut back in distance, a move Cox believes is beneficial.
O'Brien and Dettori also represent Europe in this race with Greenfinch, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred Justify filly who won the Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney in Ireland July 17.
Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 7, 2024, Race 6Entries: Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Three Priests (JPN) John R. Velazquez 122 Roger Varian 8/1 2 2Chop Chop (KY) Flavien Prat 126 Brad H. Cox 5/2 3 3Angel Nadeshiko (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 10/1 4 4Greenfinch (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 118 Aidan P. O'Brien 3/1 5 5Loved Reiko (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Daniel Leitch 30/1 6 6Vergara (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 H. Graham Motion 7/2 7 7Neecie Marie (PA) Joel Rosario 126 Robert E. Reid, Jr. 4/1 8 8Forever After All (KY) Adam Beschizza 122 Brendan P. Walsh 15/1 9 9Viva La Red (KY) Florent Geroux 122 Patrick L. Biancone 30/1
