After a successful trip to Del Mar, we head back to Kentucky Downs for their big day of racing today. They have six graded stakes today where each race has a purse of $2 million. There are some great fields here that will meet at this European-style course here in Franklin, Kentucky.
Kentucky Downs Race 6 – Ladies Marathon (Grade 3)
Favored in this race for fillies and mares is the 2 Chop Chop (5/2 morning line). She was further back than she had in past races after steadying early on in the Glens Falls at Saratoga. She was also wide most of the way around, so she has excuses. She does have a win over this course winning in 2022 here.
Invading from Ireland is the 4 Greenfinch (3/1 ML) who went gate to wire at Killarney but has shown she can run this distance finishing third at Naas in June. A similar race like the race two back will give her a chance today,
The 1 Three Priests (8/1 ML) could be a nice longshot here. She finished fourth but was closing down the stretch at Pontefract in the UK, which is a very hilly course.
Near the outside is the 7 Neecie Marie (4/1 ML) who just missed in the Beverly D at Colonial Downs last month. She could be a nice closer if she can handle all the undulations in the course.
I’ll take the two European invaders in this race, with Greenfinch as my win wager. Let’s call this 4-1-2-7 and my play is $20 on the 4.
Kentucky Downs Race 7 – Music City Stakes (Grade 2)
Next is the Music City Stakes where an overflow field of 16 three-year-old fillies will go six and a half furlongs.
Favored in this sprint is the 9 Pounce (7/2 ML). She closed well at a mile on the turf to win the Lake George at Saratoga. This will be the shortest she has run but is a versatile sort that could be on the lead or close like she did last time out.
Returning to face fellow females is the 8 Buttercream Babe (9/2 ML) who just missed in the Grade 2 Hall Of Fame at Saratoga last month. She broke her maiden last year at Kentucky Downs and finished third in a $500,000 stakes race last year.
The 12 Vive Veuve will be on the outside if none of the AE’s draw in. The outside post should not be a worry as that turn is a very wide and sweeping one. She does like to close on the outside, which will be her modus operandi today.
If she draws in, the 15 Twirling Queen (4/1 ML) will be very dangerous. She was close to the pace in the Coronation Cup at Saratoga going a furlong less than today and held on to win by almost a length. She comes into today’s race winning four races in a row.
The 3 Time to Dazzle (6/1 ML) won at Woodbine at the end of July going gate to wire going a mile. She shortens up to today’s distance but could be lone speed here.
If Twirling Queen gets into the race, she has a great chance of winning here. But I always love a filly or mare coming back to run against her own gender, especially after a great performance like Buttercream Babe had. My selections are 8-15-12-9-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 8.
Kentucky Downs Race 8 – Mint Millions Stakes (Grade 3)
The third race I will look at is the Grade 3 Mint Millions Stakes, which is a one-mile race. There is a field of eleven entered for this race and the favorite is the 10 Ancient Rome (5/2 ML).
Ancient Rome comes into today’s race after a slow start in the Arlington Million but closed well to finish third along the inside. She heads to Kentucky Downs today looking to win on this European style course today.
Invading from Ireland is the 2 Mountain Bear (10/1 ML) who closed well on the outside to just miss at Leopardstown in Ireland last month. He has not won this year but should be flying once again today.
The 1 Emmanuel (6/1 ML) shortens up three furlongs after having to steady early on in the United Nations at Monmouth Park. She closed well finishing fourth, but could have a shot here despite drawing the rail here.
The 4 Cash Equity (15/1 ML) closed well to finish third six days ago, but he could not catch the 11 Goliad (10/1 ML) in that race. There is a ton of speed signed up for this race, and if most if not all run today, this could be a race that could light up the tote boards.
With all the speed this is in this race, I’m looking for a closer. I will take Mountain Bear to pull off the upset here. I call this race 2-4-10-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Check the second article with races 9 to 11 as I will break down the other three stakes races from Kentucky Downs.
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