Kentucky Downs meet gets under way with big fields, low takeout

There’ll be no fans to enjoy the country-fair atmosphere that’s one of the unique aspects to Kentucky Downs when the turf-only track opens a six-day Runhappy meet Monday. The global pandemic took care of that.

Still, the quality of racing will be as good as ever at Kentucky Downs, with massive purses luring America’s best trainers and jockeys to its rural environs while offtrack bettors take deep dives into parimutuel pools offering the lowest blended takeout rate in the country (various wagers range from 14 percent to 19 percent).

Starting less than 48 hours after the rescheduled Kentucky Derby was to be renewed a two-hour drive northward at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Downs meet begins at 12:10 p.m. Central with an 11-race Labor Day card comprising cram-packed fields. The Kentucky Downs dates are Sept. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16.

It’s the big purses that drives entries, as maiden specials go for $90,000 and allowances start at $95,000. Purse funds accrue primarily from the slots-like historical racing machines that draw brisk year-round business at Kentucky Downs, which straddles the Tennessee border in south-central Kentucky. All non-claiming/starter races include substantial bonuses that are restricted to registered Kentucky-breds through the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

Four straight stakes culminate the Monday opener as races 8-11. They’re worth more than $2 million alone (counting KTDF) and lead off a busy schedule that peaks Saturday with five stakes, led by the annual meet showcase, the Kentucky Turf Cup. Zulu Alpha, one of the top turf horses in training, heads the prospects for the Grade 3, $1 million Turf Cup.

The Grade 3, $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint on Sept. 12 is the track’s lone Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 6-7 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.

Mike Maker, who trains Zulu Alpha and is by far the all-time leading trainer in track history in wins (55) and stable earnings ($7.4 million), appears to be sitting on another huge September windfall. Maker has seven entries for the Monday opener (not counting three more on also-eligibles lists), followed by 11 in Wednesday. He told racing officials he will be similarly active at the entry booth throughout the meet.

Many of the elite East Coast stables also will be represented, including Graham Motion, who has a total of 11 entries on the first two cards, as well as Chad Brown, Shug McGaughey, and Christophe Clement. They’re joined by the likes of Wesley Ward, Brad Cox, and Bill Mott, all of whom have been regulars for years.

The jockey colony is the finest assembled anywhere at any time so far in this COVID-skewed year. Besides Florent Geroux, Tyler Gaffalione, Brian Hernandez Jr., Julien Leparoux, Ricardo Santana Jr., and other mainstays of the Kentucky circuit, the riders named on the first two cards include the Ortiz brothers, Irad and Jose, along with Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, John Velazquez, Luis Saez, and Flavien Prat, while others who will ride this coming weekend include Mike Smith and Umberto Rispoli.

This is the second Kentucky Downs meet under the auspices of Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone, who bought the track in March 2019 from Corey Johnsen and partners. After this meet ends, Churchill will resume its September meet with nine more dates (Sept. 17-27), followed by the Keeneland fall meet (Oct. 2-24).

Michael Wrona and Larry Collmus will be sharing the race-calling duties during the brief stand. The forecast for opening day calls for bright sunshine and a high of 87.