Factor This caps huge weekend for Cox in Kentucky Turf Cup Preview

The second annual Kentucky Downs Preview Day at Ellis Park yielded swift times and close finishes as five $100,000 turf stakes designed as preps for much richer races at the upcoming Kentucky Downs meet (Aug. 31-Sept. 12) made for an eventful Sunday of racing at the western Kentucky track.

The stakes were run over exceptionally firm going – two course records were lowered, and others were narrowly missed – and concluded with the preview for the Grade 3, $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup, the annual Kentucky Downs showcase set for Sept. 7.

All Preview races granted an entry fee-paid berths to the winner and sported the names of the Kentucky Downs stakes they target. All five races were won by Kentucky-breds.

Preview Ky. Turf Cup

Factor This, always on or near the pace, outgamed 36-1 shot Botswana when hitting the wire just ahead of oncharging My Boy Jack when capturing this 1 1/4-mile race in a three-way photo.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Factor This returned $11 with his third straight victory and his first in a stakes. Owned by Gaining Ground Racing, the 4-year-old son of The Factor capped a monstrous weekend for trainer Brad Cox when finishing in 1:59.13, breaking the former record of 1:59.60 set in 1994.

Cox, who won the 2018 Kentucky Turf Cup with Arklow, won four other stakes at three different tracks this weekend: the Test at Saratoga with Covfefe, the Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar with Beau Recall, the West Virginia Secretary of State at Mountaineer with Maybe Wicked, and the John Morrissey at Saratoga with Celtic Chaos.

“Unreal,” Cox said Sunday evening by phone. “I’m just grateful for all the owners and the staff.”

My Boy Jack, the second wagering choice in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, really came alive Sunday. The colt came rolling home and just missed catching the top pair in an effort should set him up well for the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Kentucky Turf Cup.

Hello Don Julio, the 2-1 favorite, faded badly to finish last in a field of 10, while Bigger Picture, the morning-line favorite, was scratched.

KD Preview Ladies Turf

It took the length of the stretch for her to reel in front-running Classy Act, but that’s just what Kallio ($11.80) did in winning this one-mile race under Tyler Gaffalione.

Kallio, a 4-year-old filly by the late Scat Daddy, is trained by Brendan Walsh for the partnership of Madaket Stables, Bradley Thoroughbreds, and Tim and Anna Cambron. She finished in 1:32.62, just two-hundredths off a 24-year-old record.

“She’s very talented,” said Walsh. “She has been tricky to train mentally, more than anything, but every time she runs, she gets it a little more, a little more. I really think we are only on the tip of the iceberg with her right now.”

Classy Act, making just her second start on grass, turned back all challengers but could not withstand the late rush of Kallio, who prevailed by a neck for her first stakes victory. She now has won three of 13 overall.

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KD Preview Turf Sprint

Totally Boss ($4), ridden by Geroux, sustained a recent roll for himself and his trainer, Rusty Arnold, when rallying from well back to collar Jazzy Times in the final 40 yards for a half-length triumph. The 4-year-old Street Boss gelding lowered a 17-year-old course record when finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:00.26.

“We knew the course was pretty quick today, and this is a very nice horse,” said Geroux.

Arnold has held a hot hand for months and recently won stakes at Saratoga with Concrete Rose and Leinster. Totally Boss has been part of it all, racking up three wins and a just-miss second from his last four starts.

Jazzy Times, an 11-1 shot, looped past several front-runners when turning for home but couldn’t hold off the favorite.

KD Preview Tourist Mile

Mr Cub ($11.40) returned from a six-month layoff with a huge effort, looping into contention at the quarter pole before edging a stubborn Siem Riep by a neck in a one-mile race that went in 1:32.70. Mr. Misunderstood, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 10, rallied late to finish a length back in third.

Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard Mr Cub for the Turf Stable and trainer Ian Wilkes.

“For [Wilkes] to have him ready like he did, and for him to run as fast as he did, that goes to show you how good of a horse that he is,” said Hernandez.

Mr Cub, a 5-year-old gelding by Artie Schiller, was winning for the first time since the Opening Verse during Kentucky Derby week 2018 at Churchill Downs.

KD Preview Ladies Sprint

May Lily ($21.20) was up in the last couple of jumps to nail 1-2 favorite Surrender Now by a head amid a blanket finish in this 5 1/2-furlong race. Ridden by Gabriel Saez, May Lily looped the field on the turn before finally pushing past Surrender Now to finish in 1:00.81. Less than a half-length separated the top four finishers in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Greg Foley trains May Lily, a 5-year-old Broken Vow mare, for owner-breeder Lloyd Madison Farms. Foley’s son and assistant, Travis, was on hand. “She’s a really nice filly and it just worked out for us today,” said the younger Foley.

It was the first stakes score for May Lily, who now has won four of 18 starts.

The win continued a big weekend for Saez, who rode Mr. Money to a six-length romp Saturday in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer.

► The Preview races were linked together as the last five of 10 Sunday races in an all-stakes pick five wager. Winning 50-cent tickets returned $5,815.20 following all-sources handle of $59,635.