Da Big Hoss impresses in Kentucky Turf Cup

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Da Big Hoss has more than one of the best names in racing. He is also developing one of the best kicks in U.S. turf marathon racing.

On Monday at Kentucky Downs, Da Big Hoss continued his ascent up the stakes ranks by winning the Grade 3, $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup by two lengths, just a few weeks after he won the John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga by the same margin.

His $352,980 payday in the Kentucky Turf Cup was not bad for a horse claimed for $50,000 at Churchill Downs on June 21 by trainer Mike Maker for his longtime clients, Skychai Racing, a partnership group headed by Harvey Diamond and Jim Shircliff.

Although late-afternoon conditions made watching the Kentucky Turf Cup difficult, with a setting sun in the eyes of fans watching from the grandstand, Da Big Hoss did his best to leave little doubt that he was going to win. Tenth early, he advanced on the inside down the backstretch and then, after angling out in the stretch under confident handling from Joe Rocco Jr., steadily pulled away from Power Ped when put to the whip in the drive.

Da Big Hoss, a powerfully built 4-year-old chestnut colt by Lemon Drop Kid, raced 1 1/2 miles on a “good” turf course in 2:33.40. He paid $10.60.
Maker’s other starter, the pacesetting Roman Approval, was third, a half-length behind the runner-up.

Hyper, the 3-1 favorite, ran sixth while never mustering his usual rally.

Maker, who won a four-way shake when he dropped the claim for Da Big Hoss on Skychai’s behalf in the spring, said the key to the horse’s improvement has been giving him more distance over which to race.

He had planned on running Da Big Hoss in next month’s Elkorn Stakes at Keeneland, but after the horse came out of the John’s Call in top condition and trained well, he changed course and wheeled him back quickly into the Kentucky Turf Cup. “You don’t get many opportunities to run for that money at this distance,” he said.

Diamond was noncommittal regarding whether Da Big Hoss might test even deeper waters in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, though as they proved Monday, the Skychai partnership and Maker aren’t afraid to go for bold placement when the potential reward is there.