Kentucky Downs Turf Cup headlines huge day at Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs enters its second week of racing and the $600,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup is the headliner. A field of twelve will go the mile and a half with Grade 2 winner Hyper the 3/1 morning line favorite. Hyper has kept good company all year but he hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since 2013. His high profile connections and past success mean he will take action at the window, but he could be beatable. Da Big Hoss has been spectacular since being claimed by Mike Maker and another step forward could put him in the mix here at a price. Quiet Force drew the far outside and won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap two starts back. He tried the Arlington Million last time out and got crushed so this is a return to reality for him.

Holy Lute comes off a solid stakes win on the grass and headlines the $300,000 Kentucky Turf Dash. Holy Lute has done his best work in grass sprints and had two victories at the downhill course at Santa Anita. Perhaps he can repeat that success on the uphill course at Kentucky Downs. Channel Marker drew the rail and was last seen winning the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park. The Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint drew a big field and Grade 2 turf sprint winner Shrinking Violet figures the one to beat. Last time out she won a turf sprint at Del Mar and now she returns east to try this group. Sky Treasure drew the outside and is looking to rebound from a subpar effort in the Dance Smartly at Woodbine. Before that she won the Grade 2 Nassua.

The $300,000 Dueling Grounds Derby kicks off the stakes action on Saturday at Kentucky Downs and sees Closing Bell assigned the morning line favorite’s role. He’s coming off a good second place finish in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington and because of that big effort figures to get support. But he’s just a maiden winner so he’ll have to work for the win. Conquest Pacemaker drew the far outside in the Dueling Grounds Derby and ships down from Woodbine where he’s a stakes winner. The question for him will be the ship but his speed should prove useful.

BetPTC.com Selections for the KY Turf Cup

1. Da Big Hoss
2. Roman Approval
3. Hyper

Longshot: Captain Dixie

BetPTC.com Selections for the KY Turf Dash

1. Channel Marker
2. Mosier
3. Green Mask

Longshot: Unbridled’s Note

BetPTC.com Selections for the KY Ladies Sprint

1. Theatre Star
2. Shrinking Violet
3. Sky Treasure

Longshot: Samiam

BetPTC.com Selections for the Dueling Grounds Derby

1. Conquest Pacemaker
2. Closing Bell
3. Wireless Future

Longshot: Help From Heaven 

Woodbine Mile Day is Sunday

Sunday is a huge day north of the border as Woodbine’s $1,000,000 Woodbine Mile heads up a big card that gets underway at 1pm EST. An expected field of ten is set to go to post with talented runners like Lea, Kaigun and Grand Arch among others. With Wise Dan’s recent retirement announcement it leaves the race wide open. The Grade 1 Northern Dancer and the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes are also on the card as the top undercard events. The early Pick 4 will be guaranteed at $150,000 and the Late Pick 4 will be guaranteed at $300,000.

New York racing shifts back to Belmont Park

Belmont Park opens up this week for the Fall Championship meet and Saturday has a stakes double including the $500,000 Sands Point Stakes. Sentiero Italia won the Grade 2 Lake Placid in her last start and is 3 for 5 in her young career. She’ll have to best not only some talented US based runners in here, but also four shippers as well. US fans will know Osaila because of her third place finish behind Lady Eli in the Juvenile Filly Turf last year at the Breeders’ Cup. Since then she’s won a pair of stakes in Europe and was third in a Group 3 last time out at Goodwood. Chad Brown will send out Mrs. McDougal in the Sands Point and she’s coming off a win in the Grade 2 Lake George Stakes.

The $200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational must have had some invitations lost in the mail as only four runners showed up. But it’s a talented group including VE Day and Slim Shadey. VE Day still hasn’t won since taking the Travers and he’ll try the 13 furlong Temperence Hill. Slim Shadey was 4^th in this race last year and was beaten 20 lengths so the distance might be an issue with him.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Sands Point

1. Osaila
2. McDougal
3. Senterio Italia

Longshot: Her Emmynency

BetPTC.com Selections for the Temperence Hill

1. VE Day
2. Tacticus
3. Indycott

Saturday is Super Derby Day at Louisiana Downs

Louisiana Downs’ biggest day of the season is Saturday with the $400,000 Grade 2 Super Derby topping a big 13 race card. The Super Derby is race 11 on the card and drew a field of seven. The Super Derby Prelude is the key prep race as four of the seven runners come out of that race which was one by The Pickett Factor. The Pickett Factor has won three races in a row at Louisiana Downs and was very impressive winning the Prelude by a length and a half. Allied Air Raid was second in the Prelude and was favored that day. He finished a late closing second and prior to that was second in the Iowa Derby. Prime Engine is an intriguing shipper as he comes in from Emerald Downs in Washington off a win in the Emerald Derby. His rider Joe Steiner will ship over for the Super Derby to ride Prime Engine and with the rail draw they figure to be up close early. The Super Derby is one of seven stakes on the card at Louisiana Downs that kicks off at a special 1pm EST first post.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Super Derby

1. Allied Air Raid
2. The Pickett Factor
3. Prime Engine

Longshot: Chocopologie

Churchill Downs September Meet kicks off Friday

Churchill Downs opening day is Friday and Saturday the track will feature four stakes events, including a pair of two year old races. The Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes and the Grade 3 Iroqouis Stakes both drew some talented runners. Just Wicked looks tough in the Pocahontas Stakes as she is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes. Decked Out has ran well in stakes but was soundly defeated by Just Wicked last time out. Princess Kennedy ships over from Emerald Downs and owns an eight length stakes win from that track. He’ll even be ridden by Emerald Downs’ all time winningest jockey Gallyn Mitchell.

The Iroquios features a number of maiden breakers with Tremont Stakes winner Cocked and Loaded the only stakes winner on dirt. Rated R Superstar was a very impressive maiden winner at Ellis Park and could improve on the stretch out. An x factor could be Expected Ruler who won a turf stakes at Monmouth Park in his career debut, making a flashy move up the rail to get the win.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Iroquois

1. Rated R Superstar
2. Missile Bomb
3. Cocked and Loaded

Longshot: Expected Ruler

BetPTC.com Selections for the Pocahontas

1. Just Wicked
2. Decked Out
3. Bold Quality

Longshot: Dream Dance

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Belmont Park

Race 3                  Temperence Hill Invitational                2:01pm EST

Race 9                  Sand’s Point Stakes                                    5:19pm EST

Belterra Park

Race 6                  Loyalty Stakes                                   4:25pm EST

Canterbury Park

Race 8                  HBPA Sprint                                      5:25pm EST

Race 9                 Shakopee Juvenile                             5:56pm EST

Churchill Downs

Race 5                  Open Mind Stakes                             2:45pm EST

Race 8                  Pocahontas Stakes                            4:18pm EST

Race 9                  Iroquois Stakes                                 4:49pm EST

Race 10       Locust Grove Stakes                                   5:20pm EST

Delaware Park

Race 3                  New Castle Stakes                             2:15pm EST

Race 5                  Small Wonder Stakes                         3:15pm EST

Race 6                  Tax Free Shopping Distaff                   3:45pm EST

Race 7                  First State Dash                                 4:15pm EST

Race 9                  George Rosenberger Memorial             5:15pm EST

Race 10                DHTA Governor’s Day                         5:45pm EST

Finger Lakes

Race 4                  Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes          2:40pm EST

Gulfstream Park

Race 4                  Sensitive Prince Stakes                       2:54pm EST

Indiana Grand

Race 9                  QHRAI Stallion Auction Futurity            9:49pm EST

Race 10                QHRAI Stallion Auction Derby              10:17pm EST

Kentucky Downs

Race 7                  Dueling Grounds Derby                       5:38pm EST

Race 8                  KY Downs Ladies Sprint                      6:09pm EST

Race 9                  KY Downs Turf Dash                          6:40pm EST

Race 10              KY Downs Turf Cup                                    7:10pm EST

Laurel Park

Race 6                  Lady Baltimore Stakes                        3:39pm EST

Race 7                  Selima Stakes                                    4:10pm EST

Race 8                  Laurel Futurity                                   4:41pm EST

Race 9                  Laurel Dash                                       5:11pm EST

Los Alamitos T-Bred

Race 8                  EB Johnston Stakes                            8:30pm EST

Louisiana Downs

Race 5                  La. Stallion Stakes                              3:04pm EST

Race 6                  River Cities Stakes                              3:35pm EST

Race 7                  La. Stallion Stakes                              4:04pm EST

Race 8                  Happy Ticket Stakes                          4:38pm EST

Race 9                  Sunday Silence Stakes                        5:07pm EST

Race 10                Unbridled Stakes                               5:40pm EST

Race 11                  Super Derby                                     6:12pm EST

Monmouth Park

Race 7                  NJ Breeders Handicap                         3:52pm EST

Race 8                  Jersey Girl Handicap                             4:25pm EST

Race 9                  Charles Hesse III Handicap                  4:56pm EST

Parx

Race 8                  PTHA President’s Cup                        4:04pm EST

Woodbine

Race 7                  Natalma Stakes                                 4:02pm EST

Race 9                  Summer Stakes                                 5:09pm EST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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