Bluegrass Parkway takes Turf Cup Preview

HENDERSON, Ky. – Four stakes preps toward the rich Kentucky Downs meet ended a nine-race card at Ellis Park on Sunday, with Bluegrass Parkway earning an automatic berth by winning the $125,000 preview for the $1 million Calumet Turf Cup, the annual Kentucky Downs showcase.

All four previews were run over a firm turf that played so fast that three course records were set, including one that lasted only about an hour.

Three previews were run on the turf here Saturday, making for a total of seven on the weekend. All are intended as steppingstones to stakes at the six-day meet (Sept. 5-12) at turf-only Kentucky Downs. The Grade 2 Calumet Turf Cup is set for the biggest day of the meet, Sept. 11.

KD Turf Cup Preview

Bluegrass Parkway rallied from well back in a field of eight to edge another stretch-runner, Spooky Channel, and setting a new mark of 1:57.94 for the infrequently run distance of 1 1/4 miles. The former record of 1:59.12 was set two years ago by Factor This in the Turf Cup Preview.

Julien Leparoux, back from Saratoga after winning the Glens Falls on War Like Goddess on Saturday, was aboard Bluegrass Parkway for owner Mike Ryan and trainer Mike Maker. The 5-year-old Quality Road gelding was winning for just the third time in 17 career starts when returning $28.20.

Spooky Channel was second by a half-length and was followed in order by the only filly in the lineup, Family Way, and another Maker runner, Tide of the Sea, who was favored at 6-5 when setting the pace to the quarter-pole before fading to fourth.

Maker, easily the all-time leading trainer at Kentucky Downs, has won four of the last six runnings of the Calumet Turf Cup.

KD Mint Million Preview

In a field reduced to five by the last-minute scratch of the would-be favorite, Hieronymus, a short-lived course record of 1:32.05 for a mile was set by Chicago shipper Betwithbothhands ($13.20) after the 5-year-old gelding prevailed in a race-long duel with Tut’s Revenge in this $98,250 race.

Betwithbothhands, with Rocco Bowen riding, finally edged away from Tut’s Revenge in the final 50 yards after they went head and head from the opening stages. Necker Island, the 17-10 post-time favorite, closed to be third in his turf debut.

Armando Hernandez is the owner and trainer of Betweithbothhands, a Kentucky-bred who entered the race with seven wins from 20 prior starts and earnings of $94,946. The Uncle Mo gelding can be expected back for the Grade 3, $1 million WinStar Farm Mint Million Mile on Labor Day, Sept. 6.

The winning time lowered the record of 1:32.60 set in 1995, but then She’sonthewarpath set a new record when going even quicker two races later in the Ladies Mile.

KD Ladies Mile Preview

Just as when they met here five Sundays earlier in the Ellis Park Turf, She’sonthewarpath ($5.40) edged Dominga in a hard-fought finish – although it took a record time of 1:31.98 for the mile to capture this $99,875 race.

“(Being at) Ellis has really done well for us,” said Steve Margolis, who trains She’sonthewarpath for owner-breeders Robert and Lawana Low. “She’s trained great, gets a lot out of it, handled everything else great. I’m excited about her.”

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She’sonthewarpath, ridden by Adam Beschizza, rated in mid-pack while 90-1 shot Flash n’ Dance set the early pace. As the field bunched together, with Dominga and Look Me Over moving to challenge Princess Causeway up front, it was a wide rally from She’sonthewarpath that took her to a half-length score. Dominga, slightly favored at 8-5, got second by a neck over Princess Causeway.

She’sonthewarpath, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Declaration of War, now has won eight of 19 starts. She’ll go next in the Grade 3, $750,000 Ladies Mile, also part of the big Sept. 11 program.

KD Ladies Sprint Preview

Yes It’s Ginger ($7) kept trainer Greg Foley rolling by winning this $99,179 race by 1 1/4 lengths under a flawless ride from Marcelino Pedroza. The 5-year-old mare was a slight favorite when she won her second straight stakes by laying just off the front-runner, Elle Z, and gradually pulling away in the final furlong.

Yes It’s Ginger, a Kentucky-bred by Yes It’s True, was coming off a win in the Chicken Fried Stakes on the June 27 Texas Derby card at Lone Star Park. She finished 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:00.71 in earning a spot in the Grade 3, $600,000 Ladies Turf Sprint, a 6 1/2-furlong race on Sept. 11. She is owned by the Brilliant Racing of Joe Kristufek and partners.

Elle Z held well as the runner-up and was followed by a second Foley trainee, Skinny Dip, in a full field of 12.

It’s been a tremendous year so far for Foley, a 40-year veteran whose current roster includes such standouts as Sconsin, O Besos, Bango, and Major Fed. Yes It’s Ginger, he said, “is just a gutsy little filly. She gives you all every time you run her. She’s done nothing but get better all the time.”