Hot Springs scores as favorite in Jefferson Cup
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hot Springs hit the road this summer and kept knocking on the door in graded stakes company. Returning to a course he favored, he was sent away as the favorite and delivered in the $100,000 Jefferson Cup for 3-year-olds on the turf Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Hot Springs ($6.60), an Uncle Mo colt who is trained by Steve Asmussen for Woodford Racing, finished ninth in his debut at Fair Grounds earlier this year, but then won back-to-back races on the Churchill Downs turf, taking a maiden special weight followed by an allowance. He hit the road for the summer, finishing second in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes in July at Delaware Park – with subsequent Grade 1 winner Carrick in third – and fourth in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga.
“He came out of [the Saranac] in great shape,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. “We were excited to bring him into this race. He loves it here at Churchill Downs.”
Hot Springs, under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr., got a perfect stalking trip in the Jefferson Cup, sitting in third and saving ground as Discovered took the field through moderate splits of 24.12 seconds for the quarter, 49.58 for the half, and 1:15.44 for six furlongs on turf officially rated good after wet weather in Kentucky throughout the week.
The field began to bunch up around the far turn, but Discovered had more in reserve, kicking on to open up a 2 1/2-length lead in the stretch. Santana tipped Hot Springs out to find room, and once the colt got his momentum rolling, he wore the leader down in the final yards and drove clear to win by a length. He stopped the clock in 1:54.18 for the 1 1/16 miles.
“I had a dream trip,” Santana said. “I got a beautiful trip. I kept him inside and saved all the ground that I could. The turf is really soft, but I know he really likes it here. He's won already here, and he ran a really big race today."
Discovered held second by a head over Captivating Moon, who rallied from last at the halfway point. It was another four lengths back to Armed for Battle, followed by Dubby Dubbie, Factor This, Silent Citizen, King Valero, and Tigers Rule.