Sweet Luca rallies to win Kentucky Downs Turf Dash

The Illinois-bred Sweet Luca rallied strongest of all for a narrow victory in a four-horse photo Monday in the $180,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Dash.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, Sweet Luca returned $29.20 to win after getting up in the final strides to defeat California invader Holy Lute by a neck in the 6 1/2-furlong Turf Dash. Bye Bye Bernie was third, beaten just a nose by Holy Lute while another neck ahead of Green Mask in the field of 10 older horses.

Bred and owned by Fortino Inc., Sweet Luca competed for the equivalent of one-third of the purse. The full purse was pegged at $300,000, but $200,000 of that was restricted to horses eligible to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Sweet Luca earned $58,900.

This was the fifth career stakes win at Kentucky Downs for Chicago-based trainer Chris Block, who won the Kentucky Turf Cup in 2012 and 2014. All four of those Block winners also were ineligible for the KTDF bonuses.

Sweet Luca, a 6-year-old gelding by Candy Ride, finished in 1:19.44 over a course rated “good.” It was his seventh win in 32 career starts and pushed his career bankroll past $440,000.

The $2 exacta (6-5) paid $168.20, the $1 trifecta (6-5-7) returned $1,158.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-5-7-9) was worth $1,005.04.

The Turf Dash was part of the richest day ever held at turf-only Kentucky Downs. The 10-race card originally was postponed two days from its original Saturday date to allow the course to dry out.