Kentucky Downs

Constitution Maiden Wins Juvenile Mile at Kentucky Downs

KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE MILE S., $499,286, Kentucky Downs, 9-10, 2yo, 1mT, 1:38.17, fm. 1--ASPENITE, 118, c, 2, by Constitution 1st Dam: Aspening, by Candy Ride (Arg) 2nd Dam: Motokiks, by Storm Cat 3rd Dam: Matoki, by Hail to Reason ($375,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Glen Hill Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Cristian A. Torres. $294,150. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $350,450. 2--Tough Little Nut, 118, c, 2, Palace Malice--Celestial Kitten, by Kitten's Joy. ($20,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Town and Country Racing, LLC; B-Austin...

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Bay Storm Holds Off Wakanaka In Ladies Turf Sprint

This year, she was on the winning side of the photo. After coming up just a nose short to MG1SW Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in this race just last year, Bay Storm (Kantharos) parlayed a victory in Ellis Park's KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S. into a win in the real thing as she held off a closing Wakanaka (Ire) (Power {GB}) right on the wire. After making her first two starts of 2023 at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old came east and checked in a valiant second to...

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Longshot Get Smokin Wires Kentucky Turf Cup

When they throw $1.7 million at a race that entitles the winner to a guaranteed, fees-paid berth in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, sometimes you cast all logic aside and roll the dice against all odds. As the saying goes, 'you miss 100% of the shots you don't take,' and it was with that mindset that Get Smokin (Get Stormy)--a Grade II and Grade III winner, but unproven over the 12-furlong trip of the GII FanDuel Kentucky Cup Turf--was even entered in the first place. But given...

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Twirling Candy's Gear Jockey Doubles Up in Ainsworth Turf Sprint

In a mad scramble for the wire in Saturday's $1-million GII Ainsworth Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs, 23-1 Calumet homebred Gear Jockey (6, h, Twirling Candy--Switching Gears, by Tapit) got a desperate head down in front of 3-2 choice One Timer (Trappe Shot) and 11-1 Bad Beat Brian (Jack Milton). It was a repeat of his success in this same race two years ago when it was a Grade III, albeit by a far slimmer margin. Final time for the six furlongs was 1:10.59. The Turf Sprint is a...

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Sunday Insights: Lake Superior Set For Del Mar Debut

5th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 6:37 p.m. Campaigned by the same ownership group as 'TDN Rising Star' Prince of Monaco (Speightstown), $1.05-million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase LAKE SUPERIOR (Quality Road) makes his first appearance on closing day at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. Dam Celibataire (Broken Vow) also produced the dark bay colt's full-brother SW Stillwater Cove. Out of a female family which includes his dam's full-sister MGSW Interactif, Lake Superior will have the services of the meet's leading rider, Juan Hernandez. TJCIS PPS 2nd-MTH, $57K, Msw, 2yo,...

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Kodiac Wintergreen Could Be Home Run For Alex Bregman

Edited Press Release, Mike Kane/Kentucky Downs All the essential timing elements for Sunday have dovetailed for Houston Astros star third baseman Alex Bregman and his very promising filly Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). By the time Kodiac Wintergreen goes to the starting gate for the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs at 5:28 p.m. (CT), the Astros's home game with the San Diego Padres should be long finished. His day's work on the diamond at Minute Maid Field done, Bregman will be parked in front of a...

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Making Waves: Classic Vibes At Kentucky Downs

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of the Classic-placed Lindy at Kentucky Downs, formerly the "Dueling Grounds", in Southern Kentucky.   Le Havre Filly Wins in Kentucky The French Classic-placed Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) won a Kentucky Downs affair for Everest Racing and trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday (video). Part of the Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl breeding programme, Lindy was knocked down to Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International for €90,000...

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Saturday Insights: Maiden Colts Shine On Debutante Day

4th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 5:59 p.m. An $850,000 Keeneland September yearling, CONCORD BRIDGE (Medaglia d'Oro) makes the races for owners Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds under the tutelage of trainer John Sadler. Dam Pauline Revere, a half to GI Bing Crosby S. winner American Theorem (American Pharoah) and her first foal, Donegal Mischief (Into Mischief), romped to a 10 1/4-length maiden win on debut at Evangeline Downs July 28. Lined up just to his outside, Utopian (Curlin) is a full-brother to MGISP Ride On Curlin and out...

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Sod Dabbler Or Diver, Saturday's Graded Stakes Runs Deep

The going sticks will get stuck and with the rails down or out, the Saturday graded stakes lineup trucks in with heaps of sod for your turf racing enjoyment. Whether you are a dabbling duck or one that takes a deep dive, there is something for everyone as the Downs--Kentucky and Colonial--plus Woodbine Racetrack and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, all feature high-level grass action. KENTUCKY DOWNS GRADED SIX PACK The uniquely designed turf course at Kentucky Downs cards the most graded stakes this Saturday, which will lead off with...

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Kentucky Downs VP Of Racing Ted Nicholson Joins TDN Writers' Room

It's the meet that keeps getting bigger, richer and better every year. During the seven days of racing that makes up the Kentucky Downs meet, there will be 11 stakes races worth at least $1 million and it looks like the all-turf establishment is on track to set another handle record. How has Kentucky Downs done it? Ted Nicholson, the track's vice president of racing joined the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland to talk about one of the sport's great success stories. He was this week's Green Group...

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Le Havre's G1SP Lindy Triumphs in U.S. Debut

3rd-Kentucky Downs, $120,500, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 9-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:41.01, gd, 1 1/4 lengths. LINDY (FR) (f, 3, Le Havre {Ire}--Llanita {GB} {SP-Fr, SP-USA, $135,802}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), backed down to 1-5 in this scratch depleted U.S. unveiling, settled in a stalking third behind Delight (Mendelssohn) through an opening quarter in :25.25. With Do You Love Me (English Channel) assuming control through a :50.36, the French-bred took aim at the leader in the final furlong, gained control late en route to a confident 1 1/4-length victory...

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Kentucky Downs VP Ted Nicholson Joins TDN Writers' Room

Kentucky Downs VP of Racing Ted Nicholson joins the Writers' Room to discuss the seven-day Kentucky Downs race meet, talking takeout, purse money, plans for the future and more.

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