KD Turf Sprint – (Grade ll) [BC]

Purse $1,750.00 – For Three Year Olds And Upward

6 Furlongs – Turf

Kentucky Downs – September 5, 2026

A massive purse and a coveted spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be on the line this weekend in the 12th running of the KD Turf Sprint! This race has evolved over the years with the distance shortening from six and a half furlongs to now six furlongs before earning Grade Two status in 2022. Only two homebreds are entered this year, but what the field lacks in home-grown stock is made up for in experience. The fourteen starters boast an average of over $1,000 in career purse earnings. No owner has been more successful in the KD Turf Sprint than Mb Stables, who has five wins starting from 2016. The stakes record was set last year when Sorcerer closed from off the pace under jockey Gerardo Corrales, stopping the clock in 1:07.85. That time also stands as the six-furlong track record at Kentucky Downs. Now the richest race of the year for turf sprinters, this wide-open showdown has attracted a talented field looking to cash in and secure an automatic berth on racing’s biggest stage. Let’s go through all of the contenders!

1. Moonligtonthewabash – (High Voltage, D E. Centeno) This four-year-old has been a great claim for High Voltage since being taken from Barcelona Farms for $28.00 following a five-furlong turf victory in November 2024. Connections tried getting him on the Kentucky Derby Trail before returning him to the grass, where he immediately finished second in the Grade One American Turf. Moonligtonthewabash remained in graded company for the rest of the year and produced his biggest performance in the BC Mile, rallying from eighth to get up by a head. He is winless through five starts this season, but his last two efforts have been encouraging with a close third in the Dayton and a fifth-place finish beaten only one length in the Connaught Cup. The distance may be the biggest question, but recent performances make this California-bred difficult to dismiss.

2. Edged Out – (TwinTowersRacing, M J. Sanchez) TwinTowersRacing bred this son of Class Edge and has tested him at several distances and on both surfaces throughout his 17-race career. Edged Out earned his first graded stakes victory in last year’s Hill Prince, coming from last to score by a half-length going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. He also showed some sprinting ability when finishing third by one length in the Grade One Simpson over 6 1/2 furlongs. This four-year-old has gone winless through five starts this year, all coming in Grade One or Grade Two company. He was beaten only two lengths after closing from last in the PWC Turf, but has failed to build on that effort in four starts since. Connections are now making a major change by cutting him back from 1 3/8 miles to six furlongs. His Grade One placing at a similar distance is encouraging, but this may be too short for his closing style.

3. Buffalo G – (Nakamura Stables, R E. Eramia) The most accomplished runner in the field, as this nine-year-old has won 21 of 64 starts and banked nearly $2,000 in purse money. Eighteen of those victories have come on the grass, showing just how dependable he has been throughout his lengthy career. Buffalo G proved he still has plenty left in February when he edged clear turning for home and captured the Grade Three San Marcos by two lengths at 1 1/4 miles. He has not won in four appearances since, although he missed by only a neck in an allowance at Monmouth two back. The veteran most recently shortened to 7 1/2 furlongs in the Connaught Cup, where he controlled the pace before settling for fourth by half a length. Now this Ontario-bred turns back another 1 1/2 furlongs for the shortest assignment of his recent career. Is there another big effort in store?

4. Whoa Bo – (Maxmillion Farm, J. Lezcano) A familiar face returns to Kentucky Downs, as Whoa Bo finished third by one length in last year’s KD Turf Sprint. The seven-year-old also captured the Grade Two Highlander earlier that summer, getting up by a neck over the same six-furlong distance he tackles here. This son of Bo Judge has yet to visit the winner’s circle through six starts this year, but has continued to hold his own against graded company. He missed by a quarter-length in the Grade Three FG Stakes before getting third in both the Muniz and Wise Dan. Maxmillion Farm turned this gelding back to sprinting last time out in the Troy, where he raced just behind the leaders before settling for fifth by two lengths. The added half-furlong and return to a course he has handled well should work in his favor. I could definitely see Whoa Bo making a run against these.

5. Superbush – (Acber Farms, V. Espinoza) Acber Farms landed this gelding for just $4.93 at auction in December 2024 and has been rewarded with eight victories since the purchase. Superbush opened this year with three consecutive wins, including the Grade Three Fool Handicap and a two-length score in the Grade Three Commonwealth. His streak came to an end in the Grade One Churchill Downs, losing a heartbreaker at the wire. The five-year-old has cooled off in two appearances since with a fifth in the True North before ending up last of 12 in the Bing Crosby. Nearly all of his experience has come on dirt, although this Kentucky-bred was beaten a nose in the Janus during his lone turf attempt last December. If Superbush can transfer his best dirt form to the grass, he possesses enough speed and class to be a factor.

6. King Speed Party – (Winning Link Stables, E J. Zayas) Claimed for $50.00 last November before getting fourth in the AQU Turf Sprint. After two unsuccessful turf route attempts to begin 2026, King Speed Party shortened up in the Grade Two Shakertown and sprang a 25-1 upset by a neck. The son of King Party then finished third in the TS Turf Sprint before securing his first Grade One victory by taking the Jaipur in another close race. He ran pretty well last time out, rallying from seventh to grab third in the Troy. Although each of his past four appearances came at 5 1/2 furlongs, he is already proven at six furlongs after winning an allowance and placing in the Highlander last year. With eight victories from twenty turf starts and his form better than ever, King Speed Party has earned his place among the leading contenders. One to watch.

7. Blueberry – (Luz International, J J. Castellano) Few claims have paid off better than Blueberry, whom Luz International took from LionKing Stables for $16.00 in March 2025. He closed out last year with consecutive victories at Aqueduct, capped by a neck score in the NY Turf Sprint Championship. The five-year-old has taken another major step forward this year, winning four of six starts while never finishing more than one length behind. His victories have come in the GP Turf Sprint, Chamberlain Bridge, Cole, and most recently the Grade Two Troy. The son of Breath Of The Wild sat just behind the early pace last time out before taking command and pulling away to prevail by one length for his first graded win. Blueberry now returns to six furlongs, a distance over which he captured in all of his Aqueduct appearances. This is going to be my top pick.

8. Bear Head – (Maxmillion Farm, C J. McMahon) The second of three runners for Maxmillion Farm was purchased from Martyparty for $200.00 back in June 2025. The investment paid off almost immediately, as Bear Head captured the Grade Two Secretariat by three lengths just two months later. After several inconsistent attempts around one mile, Max moved this gelding into the sprint division this spring. He gave an immediate indication that the change could work when finishing third at 48-1 in the Grade Two Shakertown. Bear Head failed to hit the board in his next two outings. He put everything together last time in the Tri-State Turf Sprint, tracking the pace before digging in to win by a neck. The added half-furlong should not trouble a former graded route winner, and that latest performance gives him some momentum heading into his toughest sprint assignment yet.

9. Bay Another Man – (Our Athletes, M. Gutierrez) Our Athletes brings his homebred back to the site of his greatest accomplishment. Bay Another Man captured last year’s Grade One Simpson at Kentucky Downs, sitting just off the pace before taking over and scoring by a half-length on soft ground. He backed up that performance with a third in the Woodford and later finished fifth by only one length in the BC Turf Sprint. This Ontario-bred’s 2026 campaign began quietly with three consecutive off-the-board efforts, but his form has steadily improved since then. The son of Man Childe placed third in an allowance at Churchill Downs before missing by just a quarter-length in the Highlander. He returned to the winner’s circle last time at Saratoga, holding on by a neck over 5 1/2 furlongs. Bay Another Man appears to be rounding back into form at the right time with some five-furlong bullet turf workouts.

10. Mosquito – (Spankys Barn, H I. Berrios) This gelding was bought privately from Barcelona Farms for $150.00 back in September 2024 and was developed into a graded stakes winner the following year. Mosquito produced his biggest victory in last year’s Grade Three Daytona, getting his nose down after racing near the back early. His form has been pretty spotty this season with an eighth in the GP Turf Sprint before placing in an allowance and a claiming event. The six-year-old broke through in a $75.00 claiming race at Santa Anita, then returned to the Daytona and finished seventh despite being only one length behind. The son of Aggravation delivered a much stronger performance last time out at Del Mar by winning by two lengths in an optional claimer. Mosquito faces a significant class increase here. His latest effort makes him an interesting longshot.

11. Agent Zero – (Mb Stables, L. Saez) Only a couple of runners in this field have displayed as much versatility as Agent Zero. This gelding won four of six starts last year, highlighted by a narrow victory in the Grade Three BEL Turf Sprint over today’s six-furlong distance. He added the Turf Dash in February before taking on a completely different challenge against some of HRP’s best dirt horses. Agent Zero finished second in both the Essex and Grade One Met Mile while also placing fourth in the Grade One Churchill Downs. Mb Stables moved this California-bred back to the grass last time in the Grade One Fourstardave, where he rallied from ninth to finish fifth by only one length at a mile. Agent Zero now turns back to the distance that produced his first graded triumph. The unusual campaign since 2024 makes him slightly difficult to gauge, however Mb will have him ready to fire.

12. Nitro – (The Sidley Stud, P. Lopez) Connections appeared to have unlocked Nitro by transforming him into a turf sprinter this year. After spending most of 2025 on the dirt, this five-year-old has hit the board in six of eight grass appearances and has never been beaten by more than one length. The son of Dehara opened the 2026 campaign hitting the board four times before breaking through in the Grade Two TS Turf Sprint. He nearly doubled up in the Grade One Jaipur next time out, missing by only a head after another strong late run. The past two efforts may look disappointing on paper, but he was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Harvey Pack and one length in the Tri-State Turf Sprint. The move to six furlongs should give this late-running gelding a little more time to produce his best kick. Despite owning only one turf victory, Nitro’s consistency against top company makes him dangerous.

13. Little Tiger – (Temulac Farm, A. Fresu) Received an immediate return after purchasing Little Tiger from Ajm Stables for $17.01 last December. Just 13 days later, the eight-year-old captured the Grade Two Hernandez Stakes by three-quarters of a length to complete a four-win 2025 season. He has not been able to add another win through six appearances this year, but has still reached the board four times. Five of those six defeats came by one length or less, including a narrow loss in the Sensational Star and a third in the Clockers Corner. This California-bred most recently closed from fifth to finish third by a neck in the Harvey Pack at Saratoga. He also competed in this race last year, crossing the wire sixth while finishing only one length behind the winner. Although he may not be winning at the same rate as last season, his proven graded class keeps him in the conversation.

14. Chilled Niagra – (Maxmillion Farm, K J. Asmussen) The third and final entrant for Maxmillion Farm has been another outstanding claim for the stable. Chilled Niagra was taken from Alydar Stables for $25.00 in June 2024 and has gone on to win nine races for his current connections. The six-year-old began this year with four consecutive victories, scoring twice on the turf before transferring that form to the dirt. His fourth straight win came in the Grade Three Fleet Sprint Handicap, where he closed from sixth to get up by one length. The Ontario-bred has suffered two narrow defeats since, finishing third in the Grade Three Aristides and second by a quarter-length in the Grade One Bing Crosby. Chilled Niagra now returns to the grass for the first time since February, but the surface change should not be a concern with nine wins from 16 turf appearances. A contender.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES