Maker takes three shots at rich Kentucky Turf Cup
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Trainer Mike Maker will run three of the 12 horses in the main body of the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup, but he fears that might not be nearly enough.
“If I had nine more, I’d have a lot more confidence going in,” Maker joked this week.
Da Big Hoss, Roman Approval, and Quiet Force – all of them claimed by Maker – will race for separate ownership groups Monday in the rescheduled $600,000 Turf Cup, the signature race of the five-day meet at Kentucky Downs and the anchor leg of an all-stakes pick four at this turf-only track.
Regardless of how much time they take to study, most handicappers will find the Turf Cup a tough puzzle. Hyper, shipping in from New York for Chad Brown, is a lukewarm morning-line favorite after having kept Grade 1 company earlier this year, but at least another half-dozen of these older horses merit strong consideration in the 1 1/2-mile race.
“All three of mine are doing very well,” said Maker. “It’s difficult to say who stands the best chance, other than Da Big Hoss really seems to be moving forward every race.”
All three Maker horses raced within the last month: Da Big Hoss comes off a victory in the restricted John’s Call at Saratoga, while Roman Approval was fourth in the American St. Leger and Quiet Force was overmatched at 24-1 in the Arlington Million.
Other Turf Cup contenders include Az Ridge, a pace threat from the rail for Dan McFarlane, a top trainer in the Southwest; Dramedy, the winner of the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland in April; and a pair of late-running Southern California shippers, Bailoutbobby and Power Ped, representing Doug O’Neill and Neil Drysdale, respectively.
Hyper, an 8-year-old horse by Victory Gallop, has won 10 of 27 career starts and earned more than $850,000 for his breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. His most recent victory, however, came a little more than two years ago in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Belmont Park.
The Turf Cup, the richest and only graded race at Kentucky Downs, is the last of 10 races on a Monday program that starts at 1:35 p.m. Central. The race starts in midstretch of the undulating, European-style course, which measures about 1 5/16 miles in circumference. Post time is 6:10.
Three other stakes – each worth as much as $300,000 – directly precede the Turf Cup: the Dueling Grounds Derby (race 7, 4:38), the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (race 8, 5:09), and the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash (race 9, 5:40).
Purses for all non-claiming/starter races at Kentucky Downs include at least 50 percent in bonuses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, for which the vast majority of Kentucky-breds are eligible. All 13 entered in the Turf Cup, including the lone also-eligible, O’Prado Ole, are Kentucky-breds.
It’s another outstanding card at Kentucky Downs, where the two remaining race dates are Sept. 16 and 19. Eight of the 10 Monday races drew the 12-horse maximum, while the other two got 11. Including KTDF money, purse payouts could surpass $2.2 million on the day.
Kentucky Turf Cup, Race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Hyper (Last 3 Beyers: 93-90-98)
◗ Aside from his high win percentage, this consistent runner also has rung up six seconds and five thirds; will be ridden by the perennially underrated Jose Valdivia Jr., who’s coming off a strong meet at Arlington.
Da Big Hoss (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-93)
◗ Now a winner in 6 of 12 career starts, this Lemon Drop Kid colt signaled that he’s at a career peak by airing in the John’s Call in his second start for the Skychai Racing of Harvey Diamond and partners.
Roman Approval (Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-88)
◗ Front-running 4-year-old really came to hand this spring in Florida and New York before narrowly missing in the Stars and Stripes under Julien Leparoux, who has the mount back here.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Roman Approval. Trainer Mike Maker is 40-16-5-4 with a $2.65 ROI over the past six months in turf routes with Julien Leparoux aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Quiet Force (Last 3 Beyers: 66-100-85)
◗ Two-back winner of the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap over “good” turf probably doesn’t like too much give in the ground, which is what he got when beaten 20 lengths over a yielding course in the Million.
Bailoutbobby (Last 3 Beyers: 90-93-92)
◗ Gray gelding goes for a red-hot stable, as O’Neill just enjoyed a spectacular Labor Day weekend when sweeping the Hopeful and Del Mar Futurity.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Dramedy. Trainer Steve Asmussen is 28-1-4-3 with a $0.14 ROI over the past five years at Kentucky Downs. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan