9/11/21
  

   2    KD       KD Turf Cup (GII)   [BC]

$1,000.000    3yo&Up            1 1/2m Turf        3yo 119lbs     Older 122lbs

It’s going to be a great day of racing on the hill in southern KY and we look at the field of ten set to go the marathon mile and a half distance in the KD Turf Cup (GII).  This one carries BC ramifications, and we are getting late in the season, so this is important for anyone with aspirations of going to DMR this fall.  I’m probably taking some of the usual suspects, but you gotta go with your brain… like I have one.  I’ll take Winter Solstice as the very slight top pick in this one.  He loves the route races and just seems to be in form to get the edge today.  Another that deserves a big look is Found Peace.  Any of the Mb Stables charges deserves a big look but this one has a 3-2-1 record this season with over a mil in the bank.  As a 3yo that wasn’t on the TC Trail, that’s saying something.  I love a horse for course and Raj Action Packed won this race two years ago, so… I know I know, he’s an 8yo and… the horse just runs his eye-balls out every time they put him in the gate.  I don’t care if he runs on Geritol, give him a look.

It’s going to be a humdinger so let’s go get a good spot by the rail to take this one in. 

Here’s The Field –

Solid type that has really shined since changing hands and the vet stopped by to make him concentrate on racing.  Two runner-up efforts and a win, all vs graded stakes types, but if there is really a question mark here, it’s the distance.  He tired at a mile and a quarter, and his sixth place finish was at that same distance.  See my point?

Nabbed out of a $10.000 claiming race and paid instant dividends winning the Johns Call going today’s marathon distance over the SAR turf course.  That was a softer field than this, but he sure did look good considering the major rise in class.  Can he take that to the next level and upset this group?

Got the job done winning the MTH Stakes (GIII) for his biggest score of the season, but was seventh in the Elkhorn (GII) at today’s distance, so he’s going to need to turn something around to be part of this one. 

Lightly raced, this being his fifth start, and he’s been close in just about every start.  He hasn’t loss since the vet made the most evil snip, getting his maiden win and then taking the Greenwood Stakes, but both of those were shorter than today.  Can he keep the hot hand going?

Won the prep race for this one taking the KD Turf Cup Preview by a head showing good speed in that mile and a quarter stakes.  His mile and a half efforts have been mixed as he was third in the Elkhorn (GII) but was sixth in the BEL Gold Cup (GII).  Which horse do we get today? 

Other than that tiring effort on the wet PEN lawn, he’s been on the board in every single ’21 start while winning the Palm Beach, Transylvania (GIII) and SAR Derby (GI).  If it rains, all bets are off, but a dry surface, he looks like a tough horse to get past. 

Tough one to figure out as his only season win came in his first start this year and it was a five furlong dash.  He was third in the Man o War (GI) and second in the Manhattan (GI), but his last two were vs. stakes company and he played no factor in either of those.  Can he turn it around today?

He’s been sharp this year winning three of six starts, but he’s been all or nothing as the other races didn’t amount to much.  He won the Grand Couturier at BEL going today’s distance and the Singspiel Stakes (GIII) at WO going a mile and a quarter.  He’s also thrown a few clunkers like the Bowling Green (GII) but his best would make him tough.    

He’s won four of six this year and it’s hard to say anything bad about this 6yo.  Wins in the San Gabriel (GII), Man o War (GI) and Mister D Stakes (GI) certainly makes him a horse to watch.  For some reason, they ignore him at the windows, and that not a smart move.  He should be a tough cookie today. 

Another solid season for the old man… at 8yo you’d think he’d be over at Virtual Old Friends or something, but the tough gray just keeps putting money in the bank.  All of his ’21 starts have been vs. graded foes and you have to give him a big look every single time he loads into the gate.  Same today, watch him. 

             EARLY SCRATCH

COZMAN    9 / 6 / 10                Willie’s Green Card     5 / 6 / 1            

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP