Churchill: Cuvee overcomes slow start

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Cuvee, bet down to 3-5 in a field of six 2-year-olds, easily captured the $174,200 Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs after overcoming a tardy start and gliding to the front after just a quarter-mile.

Cuvee ($3.20) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.45 over a fast track. First Money finished second, 8 1/4 lengths behind the winner and another six lengths ahead of Exploit Lad.

Cuvee broke a half-step slowly from the outside post after the colt to his inside, Toin and Boin, delayed the start by several minutes by running off behind the gate. But it didn't take Cuvee long to make up the ground, as he whizzed past Exploit Lad and First Money entering the turn.

"This horse is just unbelievable," said winning jockey Lonnie Meche.

The flashy performance in the Grade 3 Kentucky BC most likely will make Cuvee the heavy favorite again in the Bashford Manor Stakes here on closing day, July 6.

* Nine winning tickets, each worth $107,879.80, were sold Monday in the pick six, which had not been won since May 17.