King Cause scores gate-to-wire upset in Kentucky Cup Classic
In a field loaded with course specialists, King Cause quietly came into the $250,000 Kentucky Cup Classic on Saturday at Turfway Park off a solid local effort. He stepped forward off that for a strong front-running performance, holding off defending race winner Visitant down the lane for his first career stakes victory.
King Cause ($40.60), a 7-year-old Creative Cause gelding, made his first start for trainer Mike Maker's barn last year, coming off a layoff of more than a year to be third in a Saratoga allowance on Sept. 6.
"He had gotten sick before I got him and had the time off," Maker said.
However, he then endured some ups and downs. He was eased in a Belmont allowance; bounced right back for a win at Aqueduct in November; and then was 10th in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Stakes in January at Gulfstream.
King Cause made his first start at Turfway on March 10, finishing second by 2 3/4 lengths to graded stakes winner Mr Dumas in a one-mile conditioned allowance race. Finishing third behind the two was graded stakes winner Enforceable. The field also included stakes winner Next and graded stakes-placed Pole Setter.
"The idea when we got him was to stretch him out. He didn't take to the mile and a half," Maker said, referring to the McKnight, "and the mile seemed too short for him."
In the nine-furlong Kentucky Cup Classic, King Cause made every pole a winning one under Manny Franco, comfortably ticking off splits of 24.28 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.63 for the half, and 1:12.21 for the six furlongs.
Visitant, who had won three straight races at Turfway, including two stakes, saved ground while getting a good tracking trip in third. He made a sustained run at King Cause down the lane, but the winner had enough in reserve to hold him off, hitting the line a diminishing three-quarters of a length in front. King Cause finished the nine furlongs on the Tapeta in 1:48.63, giving Maker his third win on the card and Franco a second win.
Following the top two, it was 2 3/4 lengths back to Tartufo, who easily grabbed third by 3 1/2 lengths over Grade 2 winner Cross Border, Maker's other entrant. Visitant's Billy Morey-trained stablemate Beatbox, who was bumped at the start, moved up for fifth, ending his own four-race winning streak.
Completing the order of finish were Blanket of Roses, Cupid's Claws, King Fury, American Theorem, and Spectacular Gem.