2016 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com – Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky will be the scene of the Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes on Saturday, September 10. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Kentucky Downs turf track and race 1 1/2 miles for the winner’s share of the $600,000 purse.

A field of nine will take to the track in the Kentucky Turf Cup – race 9 on Kentucky Downs Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:39 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this lucrative Grade 3 stakes.

2016 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Race Preview at Kentucky Downs

Da Big Hoss 7-2 – defending champion in this race has an impressive 11 wins, a second and three third place finishes in 20 career starts for trainer Michael Maker and enters on a terrific three race win streak – the Grade 3 American St. Leger Stakes at Arlington August 13, the minor $300,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational in record time for two miles June 10 and the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April. Before that was a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream March 5 and another win in the Grade 3 John B Connally Turf Cup at this distance at Sam Houston January 30. He has won eight of his last 11 starts overall – as competitive as they come especially lately. Da Big Hoss tries to make it four straight wins from post 7 Saturday. Florent Geroux has been tabbed to ride the morning line favorite.

Greengrassofyoming 7-2 – had a great start to the summer for trainer Michael Maker – wins in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs in June and in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington July 9. Last time out was a bit of a step back – a close fourth in the Grade 1 Arlington Millions July 13. Greengrassofyoming has placed in two of five starts in 2016 (both wins) – a tad tough to figure out. He has eight wins, eight seconds and five third place finishes in 37 career starts and will have Julien Leparoux in the reins as the second betting choice from the outside post 9.

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Power Foot 6-1 – Neil Drysdale trained gelding has just four wins and six third place finishes in 28 career starts. He started 2015 with an Allowance Optional Claiming score (his last win) and went on to consecutive respectable third place finishes in graded stakes action. He has failed to place in his last four races ahead of this weekend – a seventh last time out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Handicap August 20 followed a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming here July 30, a fifth in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes March 13 and an ugly seventh in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes February 6. Power Foot hasn’t been great and hopes to turn his fortunes around from gate 6 Saturday. James Graham gets the call.

Seve’s Road 6-1 – Phil D’Amato trained gelding has three wins, two seconds and two three place finishes in 12 career starts. He made his stakes debut July 24 and finished a respectable third in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar and followed that with an Allowance Optional Claiming score last time out at Del Mar August 13. He also won an Allowance Optional Claiming May 21 but failed to place in his previous three starts. Seve’s Road has placed in three straight and arrives in career-best form. Flavien Prat has the mount.

Life’s Journey 8-1 – has just two wins, three seconds and five third place finishes in 25 career starts. He has been OK lately – a second last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar August 13 followed a fifth and a second in similar races earlier this summer. He had a decent third in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes in April and has placed in four of his last five starts. Life’s Journey looks to continue a decent run when he leaves from gate 4 with Robby Albarado guiding him.

Bullards Alley 10-1 – won a couple of races in May – an Allowance Optional Claiming and the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap May 21 – both at Churchill Downs. He has failed to place in two starts since – a sixth last time out in the minor West Virginia House of Delegate Speaker’s Cup at Mountaineer August 6 and a fifth in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington July 9. Bullards Alley has five wins, two seconds and four third place finishes in 21 career starts and will have Marcelino Pedroza aboard from gate 2.

Behesht 10-1 – French bred George Arnold trainee had three wins and two seconds in eight starts in Europe but has not been good in two starts in North America. Last time out was a seventh in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs June 18 after a ninth in the minor Opening Verse Stakes on that track in May. Behesht looks to turn thing around from post 5 Saturday. Corey Lanerie rides.

Rum Tum Tugger 30-1 – Jonathan Sheppard trained gelding has five wins, eighth seconds and four third place finishes in 29 career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a seventh in the minor John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga August 24. Before that was s third in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track August 12 and a twelfth in the minor Belmont Gold Cup Invitational June 10. He did win the minor Secretariat Stakes at Great Meadow in May but has been mostly unflattering. He leaves from the rail with Brian Joseph Hernandez in the saddle.

Verger 50-1 – lightly raced David Cannizzo trained colt has just one win and three third place finishes in seven career starts. He makes his stake debut Saturday off an ugly tenth in a Starter Allowance at Saratoga July 28. He was third in a pair of Allowance races early in the summer but also failed to place in two starts prior. Not much is expected from Verger when he leaves from gate 8 with Joseph Rocco in the irons.

2016 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Kentucky Downs’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:39 PM.