Favorites blanked in trio of Kentucky Downs stakes

Upsets were the rule Tuesday in the three stakes that ended a Kentucky Downs program postponed 48 hours following a rainout from its original Sunday date.

Indeed, favorites went down to defeat in the three rich co-features at Kentucky Downs, where all Tuesday races were contested over a turf course rated good.

The three stakes ended an 11-race Tuesday card that served as the focus of a turf-only online handicapping contest being sponsored by Daily Racing Form. The contest also is being offered Wednesday. Full contest details are available on the track website, kentuckydowns.com.

Theodora B. wins TVG

Fresh from her first stakes victory exactly a month beforehand, Theodora B. ($8.20) led every step of the $492,575 TVG, turning back odds-on Mrs. Sippy when holding sway by three-quarters of a length. Delta’s Kingdom was third, another two lengths behind Mrs. Sippy.

Cleverly rated by Irad Ortiz Jr., Theodora B. surged away at a critical point from five other fillies and mares in the once-around, 1 5/16-mile TVG, validating her front-running 11-1 upset on Aug. 15 in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly over the Woodbine turf. She returned $8.20 as second choice after finishing in 2:09.72.

“I didn’t want to fight her too much,” Ortiz said. “When I called, she was there.”

Michael Dickinson trains the homebred 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare for the Augustin Stable of George Strawbridge Jr. She ran her career mark to 6 for 18 when nearly doubling her bankroll to $647,911.

The stakes win was the first for the East Coast-based Dickinson on the Kentucky circuit since Soto won the 2002 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Mrs. Sippy was the 9-10 favorite off a strong runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Waya at Saratoga.

Emro dominates Untapable

Trainer Brad Cox continued on his torrid streak when Emro ($16.80), ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, rolled down the center of the track for a 2 3/4-length romp in the $398,500 Untapable for 2-year-old fillies.

Emro, a Point of Entry filly making just her second career start for owner Kueber Racing following an August maiden win at Ellis Park, launched her rally from midpack in a field of 11. She paid $16.80 after finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.31. Taylor’s Tourist was along late for second, with front-running Fouzia third by another three lengths.

La Libertee, who broke alongside Emro, threw Adam Beschizza at the start. Fortunately, neither the jockey nor horse were injured.

Cox, remarkably, now has won five stakes since Sept. 4, starting with Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 La Troienne and Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill. Cox won the richest race of the Runhappy Kentucky Downs meet, the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup, with Arklow on Saturday. His stable also accounted for four winners Tuesday at Indiana Grand.

Red Ghost, the 9-5 favorite, beat a steady fade to finish seventh.

The Untapable honors the 2014 champion 3-year-old filly who was bred and owned by Ron Winchell, a co-owner of Kentucky Downs.

Lighthouse takes Music City

In from Southern California, Lighthouse put forth a terrific burst in the final stages of the $360,385 Music City when finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Miss J McKay in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies in the day’s finale. Kimari, the 11-10 favorite, lacked sufficient late punch when another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

Trained by Simon Callaghan for the LNJ Foxwoods of the Roth family, Lighthouse returned $24 after finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.99 under Umberto Rispoli. Always within striking range, the gray Mizzen Mast filly was coming off a sharp runner-up finish in the July 24 Daisycutter at Del Mar.

Lighthouse now has won 3 of 7 starts, with the Music City marking her first stakes triumph.

* After Tuesday, only the Wednesday finale is left at the six-day Runhappy meet at Kentucky Downs. Churchill Downs then runs the remaining nine cards of its September meet (Thursday through Sept. 27), after which action shifts to Keeneland for a 17-day fall meet (Oct. 2-24).