Kentucky Cup Turf – Grade III
1 1/2 Mile Turf Stake Purse $600.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

I said I would shave my privates and do a streak if a certain horse won this race so look out for the photographs on a web site near you! Here’s how I was once again amazed but not surprised by another three year old taking out their elders.

1^st Officer Outcast, trained by Downwind Stables

It seems like a well-worn tale and I am pretty sure you could copy and paste a report from last year and change the names as once again we saw a three year old come out and upset the form book. It started happening at this level about three weeks ago and without checking I would say that it is the same time as last year and the year before. You’d think I would be used to it by now but it is still hard to write about with any degree of common sense or real life analogy but here goes.

Downwind Stables, a popular and successful trainer bought this gelded three year old just four months ago as a twice winning but failed claimer. After a last place finish on dirt he was switched to turf and took a state bred black type at long odds. Apparently the addition of blinkers and the change to turf was the magical formula that turned this horse from a losing free track claimer into a stakes winner and he confirmed that was no fluke by taking the Toronto Cup Stakes next time. He was then tasked with taking on older horses but was well beaten in the DMR Handicap last time out so came to this race with only the hope that the fairy dust that had been sprinkled on other three year olds had been sprinkled on him too.

Sure enough after sitting back in the field he stormed through late to snatch an unlikely victory by a head beating some very lively BC hopefuls in the process. Was this just a fluke, is this horse a future superstar of the turf or are we just seeing a repeating mechanical process? As usual only time will tell but whatever it is I wish his trainer and him the best of luck with whatever the future holds, I just don’t fancy his chances if he tries to repeat this win in next year’s race against another three year old rising from obscurity!

=2nd Spanish Showboat, trained by Mb Stables

The Woodford Turf Classic winner was right in this race from beginning to end and ran his usual game race to take a share of second. I am sure he will be a force in the BC should he take his chance but he has been a little inconsistent this year and I doubt he will go there as big a fancy as he was last year.

=2nd Skhyperion, trained by Yahudi Stables

Of course another three year old running out of his skin he backed up his good effort in The Birdstone last time with another fine effort today. Keeping on strongly and never giving up he shared second just a head behind the winner and looks like he will be a force in the latter half of the season.

4^th Eve Of Destruction, trained by Emerald Racing Inc

In front with two to run he was run down to be beaten under a length into fourth. This won’t do his BC chances any harm and is another pay check in a big race.

5^th Sri Lanka, trained by Axeman

Fifth beaten less than a length, well along with three year old super improvement we are also well used to blanket finishes to these races. For some reason he was dropped into the trail today which was completely out of character but did well to run on late and like any of the first four he could easily go on to win the BC Turf.

6^th Tucson, trained by Aer Stables

Ran a nice race to be sixth only beaten a length in his first real attempt at the top grade. At six you would suspect there isn’t much improvement left in him but I have a feeling he will be around for a few seasons left with the new found longevity of some of HRPs best horses.

7^th Mean Street, trained by Nakamura Stables

Faded from the stalk into second last

8^th One Off, trained by Chili King Stables

Last but only beaten four lengths he was beaten as soon as he hit the front at the very beginning.

SUMMARY

Well hindsight is a wonderful thing and if you poke and prod you can work out a way this result happened as it did. I have no idea if the result would be the same if you ran the race again but I do know I will not fall into the trap of writing off any three year olds in top races for the rest of the year!

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES