Kentucky Downs

Block's Illinois-breds flourish in Kentucky stakes

Marty McGee|Sep 16, 2015

Four-Footed Fotos Sweet Luca, an Illinois-bred, was not eligible for the rich bonus for Kentucky-breds when he won the Kentucky Turf Dash at Kentucky Downs.

When Chicago-based trainer Chris Block sent out Sweet Luca to a 13-1 upset Monday in the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash, it kept his record perfect in this unusual respect: All five of his Kentucky Downs stakes winners have been Illinois-breds ineligible for the rich Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses.

Block’s prior winners were Fort Prado, 2009 Turf Dash; Never Retreat, 2010 Ladies Turf; Ioya Bigtime, 2012 Kentucky Cup Turf; and Suntracer, 2014 Kentucky Turf Cup.

Block readily acknowledges that he has “left a lot of money on the table,” but he said this when Suntracer won last year: “He was born and raised in Illinois, and I’m as proud as can be about that.”

Block again has Illinois-breds in stakes on the closing-day card Saturday at Kentucky Downs: Joyable in the Ladies Turf and Giant Deduction in the Dueling Grounds Oaks.

DRF Headlines

View All