BigDaddy News

Horse Racing News

Cellist Gets it Done in Kentucky Cup Classic

Eight days after Rusty Arnold ended a controversial week-long suspension, the trainer rebounded with a resounding score in the $292,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park with the Calumet Farm homebred Cellist .

The 2 3/4-length victory was also the first in nearly two years for the hard-knocking Cellist, who was entering the Classic off a fourth-place effort in the Jan. 27 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. Although Arnold has kept the son of Big Blue Kitten  at his South Florida winter base at Palm Meadows Training Center, the gelding had shipped up to Turfway once before this winter, falling a head short of catching Classic favorite Wolfie’s Dynaghost  in the Dec. 16 Prairie Bayou Stakes.

Luis Saez, aboard Cellist for the first time, kept the gelding in a stalking fourth position as longshot Wentru  commanded the field through opening fractions of :23.26 and :48.59. Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost—2-for-2 over the Turfway oval and 5-for-7 racing on a synthetic surface—inherited the lead rounding the final bend but began to fold as his rivals cranked up the pressure turning for home.

Tipping three-wide into the stretch, Cellist devoured his rivals, and kicked home a clear winner over Atone  and Funtastic Again .

The 6-year-old stopped the timer in 1:49.33 for the 1 1/8 miles. He returned $14.78 for a $2 win ticket.

Sign up for

Arnold had served a suspension March 8-14 when his runner Figgy  tested positive for the painkiller tramadol after winning a maiden race at Turfway Park Dec. 27. The multiple grade 1-winning trainer accepted the suspension but argued in a written letter circulated by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association that the positive test was the result of contamination.

This story will be updated.

Video: TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic S. (G3)

Leave feedback about this

  • Quality
  • Price
  • Service

PROS

+
Add Field

CONS

+
Add Field
Choose Image
Choose Video

Want To Earn From Skills ?

10%
Bonus On New ID

NO DOCUMENTATION,NO KYC REQUIRED