Howard Wolowitz holds edge over Khaadem in Turf Sprint

Two horses who finished 10th in their most recent start, Howard Wolowitz and Khaadem, will be the favorites to finish first in the $2 million Turf Sprint on Saturday at Kentucky Downs.

Howard Wolowitz last saw racing action in February, chasing the pace and backing up to finish 10th in the 1351 Turf Sprint, another $2 million race, this one halfway across the world in Saudi Arabia.

Khaadem just ran Aug. 1, checking in 10th, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, in a Group 2 straight-course five-furlong dash at Goodwood. Don’t let that flat run throw you off. Khaadem had been 10th in his two previous starts when he came to Kentucky Downs a year ago. After breaking poorly, he roaed home for second in this race, beaten only by the brilliant Cogburn.

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Upside, though, clearly lies on the side of Howard Wolowitz. Khaadem is a 9-year-old with 40 starts, Howard Wolowitz a 4-year-old with seven starts. One of those wins came in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes during the 2024 Kentucky Downs meeting, and Howard Wolowitz, powering through the uphill dogleg finish, won comfortably.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. riding and a slew of fast workouts on his page, Howard Wolowitz figures a more defined favorite than the 7-2 listed on the morning line.

“He came back from the layoff doing very well,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “He’s more mature and has grown up. I’m very happy with him, very confident.”

Howard Wolowitz and the other Kentucky-bred starters run for the full $2 million purse. Horses bred elsewhere, like Ireland-bred Khaadem, compete for $1 million. Plenty want to run. A dozen can start in the six-furlong Turf Sprint and 15 were entered. Despite the numbers, the Turf Sprint lacks the sort of early speed one might expect to find. Bear River, who will struggle to see out this distance, could take an early lead, with the filly Pipsy hot on his heels.

Howard Wolowitz, if he breaks well from post 2, should slot in just behind them, and if, as D’Angelo believes, the colt comes back from his extended layoff a faster model – look out.

Until the Saudi race, for which D’Angelo has no ready excuse, Howard Wolowitz had done nothing wrong since being turned over to D’Angelo following his career debut. While he finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Howard Wolowitz did well to lose by only three lengths. Going into the turn, a rival came over on him, forcing jockey Flavien Prat to check hard and spinning Howard Wolowitz out into the middle of the course. His fourth in the Mahoney at Saratoga last summer came with a tough trip.

Howard Wolowitz will look to get back to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, as the Turf Sprint is a Win and You’re In race for the BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

It’s hard to know what you’re getting with quirky Khaadem – other than an aging sprinter likely to break slow but still capable of making a mark on his best day. Nobals, a former Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, has lost at least a half-step and never has shown his best at Kentucky Downs, but could fall into a great pressing trip. His stablemate One Timer does thrive on the Kentucky Downs course but has lost his form this season.

Pipsy could get a good pressing trip herself, and had she come to this start after defeating crack turf sprinter Future Is Now in the Intercontinental in June, she’d attract a lot of support. But Pipsy turned in a flat performance finishing eighth July 19 in the Caress at Saratoga.

“I wish I had a good answer for why she ran like that but I don’t,” trainer Will Walden said. “That’s why we’re just forgetting about it. This race was kind of the plan all year long since she ran well there last year.”

But Howard Wolowitz has been popping fast work after fast work. Pipsy can rebound and still come up short.

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