Snapper Sinclair, In Love capture divisions of TVG Stakes

Snapper Sinclair reaffirmed an obvious fondness for Kentucky Downs after In Love notched his first-ever stakes victory in capturing their respective divisions of the TVG Stakes on Wednesday at the undulating turf-only track in south-central Kentucky.

Formerly known as the Tapit Stakes, the race was split when 21 horses were entered. After scratches, nine horses remained in divisions renamed the TVG2 and TVG, with both contested over firm going at a mile and 70 yards. Both were restricted to horses that had not won a stakes in 2021.

Snapper Sinclair, ridden by Julien Leparoux, led most of the way in winning the second division, the $400,000 TVG, thereby boosting his earnings in four career starts at Kentucky Downs to a remarkable $1,019,750. In his 29 starts at other venues for trainer Steve Asmussen, the 6-year-old horse by City Zip has won four times and earned $773,590. The grand total is $1,793,340.

Prominent from the start, Snapper Sinclair rated kindly for Leparoux, spurting clear in upper stretch, then maintaining a safe margin late when prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Bob and Jackie. Based at Ellis Park through the summer with assistant Darren Fleming after having last raced at Churchill Downs in late April, he returned $6 as favorite after finishing in 1:40.24.

“He got a little bit of a break,” said Asmussen, who was on-site following his spectacular summer at Saratoga. “I’m glad he was ready for Kentucky Downs. He definitely made us proud.”

Owned by Bloom Racing, Snapper Sinclair won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile in 2017 and the Tourist Mile in 2019, then was narrowly defeated in the Tourist Mile last year. One wag posted afterward on Twitter: “He is the Fourstardave of Kentucky Downs.”

:: Get DRF's free 2021 Kentucky Downs Player's Guide

“He is the ultimate horse for the course, isn’t he?” Leparoux said. “Going downhill or uphill, he is very comfortable with it.”

Some 35 minutes earlier, in the first division, the $330,160 TVG2, the Brazilian-bred In Love became a stakes winner for the first time when getting a terrific ride from Alex Achard. He paid $19.40 as fourth choice after finishing in 1:38.55.

After rating well back in third behind a pair of dueling leaders, In Love surged through a wide opening along the rail when turning into the long homestretch and opened enough daylight to finish 2 1/4 lengths clear of the 2-1 favorite, Kentucky Ghost, who was up late to get second from Brown Storm.

In Love is based at the Thoroughbred training center in Lexington with Brazilian native Paulo Lobo, best known for winning the 2002 Kentucky Oaks with Farda Amiga when the trainer still was still based in California. Bonne Chance Farm owns the Brazilian-bred 5-year-old gelding, who was ineligible for the $100,000 in bonuses for registered Kentucky-breds. He earned $178,560, more than doubling his career bankroll with his third victory in seven starts since being sent to Lobo from Argentina.

The end of a 10-race Wednesday card meant the six-day meet is halfway complete, with Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday still to come.

Jose Ortiz tests positive for COVID-19

Standout jockey Jose Ortiz took off all his mounts Wednesday and will be sidelined indefinitely after testing positive the previous day for COVID-19. Ortiz’s agent, Jimmy Reccio, said the jockey is resting comfortably.