Embossed connects at 34-1 in Kentucky Cup Turf

FRANKLIN, Ky. - Embossed looked like a budding stakes winner when he finished a close third behind Gun Salute in last October's Hawthorne Derby. It just took him a year or so to realize that potential.

Tuesday at Kentucky Downs, the 4-year-old Embossed won his first stakes race, taking the Grade 3, $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf by a nose over fellow longshot Lord Carmen.

Making his first start at 1 1/2 miles after previously racing in shorter turf races, Embossed ($71.60) showed speed until jockey Larry Melancon, sitting in second for much of the race, as 25-1 longshot Causeway set slow fractions of 51.46 seconds and 1:19.75 over a drying-out turf course labeled "good." There he remained for much of the race before engaging a furious stretch duel with 20-1 Lord Carmen, who had raced in third early.

Although the trips were favorable for both the winner and runner-up, that was not true of third-place finisher Rochester. Winner of the Kentucky Cup Turf in 2002 and 2003, Rochester appeared to be making a threatening rally along the inside in early stretch but could not find a clear path until too late. He closed to finish third, beaten onlythree- quarters of a length.

Embossed, racing close to the pace, made his own good luck by racing close to the slow early pace.

"He kept digging in," said jockey Larry Melancon.

Silverfoot, the defending champion, finished fifth as the 4-5 favorite in a flat performance.

Embossed, a 4-year-old son of Mark of Esteem owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Niall O'Callaghan, won for the fourth time in 18 starts.

Ladies: Dash of Humor prevails

On a day when veteran racehorses Rochester and Silverfoot were the headliners, another old-timer, Dash of Humor, proved she is only getting better with age with a victory in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf.

The 6-year-old Dash of Humor ($6.20), whose first stakes victory came this summer at Ellis Park in the HBPA Stakes, proved a game winner over the pacesetting Honey Rose, winning by a neck. Victory Lap was another 2 1/4 lengths farther back in third.

Although brave in victory, Dash of Humor benefited from a ground-saving ride from Calvin Borel. Despite breaking from the far outside post in the field of seven, Borel was able to secure an inside, stalking position with Dash of Humor, and finish up the rail through the stretch.

Dash of Humor, a daughter of Distorted Humor owned by James D. Conway, raced a mile in 1:41.59.

Her win gave trainer Hal Wiggins his third victory in a Kentucky Cup Turf Festival race, following scores by Jake the Flake in the 2002 Kentucky Cup Mile and Chorwon in the 2001 Kentucky Cup Turf.

Dash: Atticus Kristy shows speed

Atticus Kristy ($4.40) was never challenged in winning the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash in the second race on the card. Showing uncharacteristic speed in a paceless race, he raced clear on the lead and won by 2 1/2 lengths under a hand ride from jockey Jesus Castanon.

Winning trainer Merrill Scherer said the change in style from the normally late-closing Atticus Kristy was the result of six scratches that reduced the field from 12 to six.

"They scratched out all the speed," Scherer said.

In a race that Atticus Kristy dominated, Mocha Queen, the lone female in the field, edged Actual by a nose for the runner-up position.

The winner, a 5-year-old gelded son of Atticus owned and bred by Centaur Farms, raced six furlongs in 1:12.64, winning for the third time in nine starts this year. His wins include the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland.

Yaqthan: Tolhwin Type surprises

Trainer Arch Kingsley purchased Tolhwin Type in Argentina to bring to America to be developed into a steeplechase runner. That plan is now on hold.

Tolhwin Type ($75) surprised even Kingsley with his flat-racing ability, scoring a stunning upset in the $50,000 Yaqthan Stakes in his first U. S. start. Leading from start to finish under Brian Hernandez Jr., Tolhwin Type turned back a midstretch challenge from Chief Export to score by three lengths. Extortion was third.

Tolhwin Type, owned by a steeplechase partnership named High Hopes Stable, ran a mile in 1:41.54.