Totally Boss under consideration for Woodford Stakes

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Totally Boss and Morticia, rich stakes winners Saturday at Kentucky Downs for trainer Rusty Arnold, returned to Arnold’s base at Keeneland late Saturday and came out of their respective races in good condition, Arnold said. Totally Boss got a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure for running six furlongs in 1:09.21 winning the $684,640 Runhappy Turf Sprint. Changing his running style from closing to pace-pressing, Totally Boss wore down pacesetting Smart Remark to post a 1 1/4 -length victory.

Arnold said after the race, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In event offering automatic fees-paid entry in the BC Turf Sprint, that Totally Boss would be trained up to the Breeders’ Cup, but on Sunday, he softened that position saying that he and owners Jim and Susan Hill would consider Totally Boss for the Woodford Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs Oct. 5 at Keeneland. Kentucky Downs is offering a $1 million bonus to a horse that wins the Turf Sprint and the Woodford.

“There will be some more thought that goes into that,” Arnold said. “There’s a chance he’ll run in the [Woodford]. It’s a million-dollar bonus and he’s a gelding. The one thing I don’t want to do is compromise his chance in the [BC Turf Sprint]."

Five-year-old mare Morticia got a career-best 97 Beyer for running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.85 winning the Ladies Sprint by 1 3/4 lengths. Morticia, a homebred owned by G. Watts Humphrey, is likely to have her career finale in the Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland.