Race 11 at Kentucky Downs is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Qualifying Race
Kentucky Downs will likely set a handle record Saturday for the richest day of racing during the six day Runhappy meet. Thursday, the track took in nearly $9 million in wagers. Many of the nation’s leading jockeys are riding at America’s most unique race meet held over a European-style turf course.
Saturday’s All-Stakes Pick 5 will generate the biggest wagering interest with $3.2 million in prize money available and four graded stakes.
- Race 7: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Lady Turf – Grade 3 race at 1 mile
- Race 8: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Lady Sprint – Grade 3 race at 6 1/2 furlongs
- Race 9: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs
- Race 10: $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup – Grade 3 race at 1 1/2 miles
- Race 11: $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint – Grade 3 race at 6 furlongs
Many full fields and competitive races provide some great handicapping and betting opportunities with a number of races in the first three days providing bigger payoffs. Sunday has three more stakes races with purse money totaling $1.3 million.
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Race at Kentucky Downs
Saturday’s Race 11 is the $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint. The race will not only be heavily bet, but also draw close scrutiny from handicappers, horsemen and bettors as many of the top legitimate prospects for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland are entered in Race 11.
A deep renewal of the 6-furlong Turf Sprint looks wide open as six runners have odds between 9/2 and 8/1 in the 12-horse field.
- Totally Boss (9/2)
- Bound for Nowhere (5/1)
- Front Run the Fed (5/1)
- Kanthaka (5/1)
- Stubbins (6/1)
- Imprimis (8/1)
The winner of the race receives a fees-paid entry plus expenses to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 7 at Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Totally Boss returns as defending champion of the Runhappy Turf Sprint. Imprimis finished fourth last year three lengths behind Totally Boss and both runners were non-factors in last year’s BC Turf Sprint. Stubbins finished fourth in the BC Turf Sprint, and has raced a little better than the other two this summer.
Having some experience racing at Kentucky Downs is an advantage, and Stubbins, Totally Boss, Bound for Nowhere and Imprimis have all raced over Kentucky Downs’ unique turf track.
Unlike other racetracks, which are typically oval, the course at Kentucky Downs is kidney-shaped, featuring undulation and a right-hand bend. The stretch run is more than a quarter-mile to the finish line.
