Stakes tripleheader keys handicapping contest, pick three

In a time when some racetracks have scaled back their stakes schedules, Kentucky Downs only continues to grow its.

Two $400,000 stakes being held Sunday at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky are brand spanking new, while a third is a $500,000 stakes with a new sponsor.

The stakes are the high points of an 11-race Sunday card that starts at 12:15 p.m. Central and serves as the main focus of a turf-only online handicapping contest being sponsored by Daily Racing Form. The contest will carry over to Wednesday. Full contest details are available on the track website, kentuckydowns.com.

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Kentucky Downs continues to thrive primarily because of revenues netted from the slots-like historical horse racing machines housed on its property – and even without spectators being permitted at the current race meet amid the ongoing global pandemic.

The three stakes – the TVG, Untapable, and Music City – end the Sunday card as the final pick three. The Franklin, Ky., forecast calls for possible thundershowers and a high of 80.

$500,000 TVG (race 9)

Formerly known as the Ramsey Farm Stakes, the TVG Stakes for fillies and mares drew just six entries – a genuine aberration at a meet where a full gate of 12 is the norm.

Being run at the once-around distance of 1 5/16 miles – the circumference of the irregularly shaped, undulating oval – the TVG seems to boil down quickly to a match between Theodora B. and Mrs. Sippy. They’ll break alongside one another in gates 2 and 3, with each coming off a sharp effort in graded stakes last month.

Theodora B. will have star jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard after reaching her career peak Aug. 15 in winning the Grade 2 Dance Smartly over the Woodbine turf for trainer Michael Dickinson.

Mrs. Sippy had a difficult time settling under Joel Rosario in the Grade 3 Waya on the Aug. 8 Travers undercard at Saratoga, and the trouble might well have cost her another graded triumph, seeing how she wound up second by a neck. The Andrew Stone homebred won the Grade 2 Glens Falls in her North American debut in 2019 after starting her career with nine overseas races. Joel Rosario has a return call on the 5-year-old mare.

“We’re happy to have Rosario back,” said Graham Motion, trainer of Mrs. Sippy. “We’ve actually been pointing to this spot. Hopefully the Saratoga race has moved her forward.”

Outside possibilities include English Affair, a 14-1 winner of a designated prep for this in early August at Ellis Park, along with Over Thinking and Siberian Iris, both exiting the same Aug. 16 race at Del Mar. Delta’s Kingdom completes the lineup.

This is the ninth running of the race, won last year by Gentle Ruler, trained by Ian Wilkes.

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$400,000 Untapable (race 10)

The 11 2-year-old fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs in the Untapable makes for a far more Kentucky Downs-esque race, with no clear-cut favorite and all kinds of options to consider.

Red Ghost, with Jose Ortiz riding for trainer Wesley Ward, could come a lukewarm choice after winning her lone start by 8 1/2 lengths at Saratoga as a poorly kept secret, although it should be noted that was an off-the-turf race and this will be her grass debut.

Others sure to draw a fair share of tote play are three outside-drawn fillies – Lady Edith, La Libertee, and Emro – all of them rousing winners of their debut this summer over the Ellis turf, as well as Lady Goldstart and a pair of maidens, Herald Angel and Mad Maddy.

The Untapable honors the 2014 champion 3-year-old filly who was bred and owned by Ron Winchell, a co-owner of Kentucky Downs.

$400,000 Music City (race 11)

Finite, another homebred Winchell standout, will make her first start in more than six months in the Music City Stakes among a full field of 3-year-old fillies, several of whom would seem to have a sizable edge over her not only in recency but in experience over turf.

The 6 1/2 furlongs of the Music City make it a tricky gauge, given that contenders such as Enola Gay, She’s My Type, and Outburst may want more ground. All three of those fillies have won two-turn turf stakes this year.

Indeed, the shorter distance may favor the likes of quicker fillies such as Kimari, back from England off a terrific runner-up effort in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, or a couple of California fillies, She’s So Special and Lighthouse.

The Music City is a nod toward the bustling city of Nashville, located just 40 miles south of Kentucky Downs along Interstate 65.

◗ After Sunday, only the Wednesday finale is left at this six-day meet. Churchill Downs then runs the remaining nine cards of its September meet (Thursday through Sept. 27), after which action shifts to Keeneland for a 17-day fall meet (Oct. 2-24).