September, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Berth On the Line in Runhappy Turf Sprint

A full field of 12 and three also-eligibles have been entered for Saturday’s GIII Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. The six-furlong dash will offer up one of the afternoon’s toughest handicapping challenges to boot.

Totally Boss (Street Boss) pounced from just off the pace to scoop this valuable prize by 1 1/4 lengths last year, then lost all chance when steadied three furlongs from home in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and finished 10th. A troubled eighth in a May 29 Churchill allowance he was bound to need in the first place, the bay completed a Rusty Arnold 1-2 in the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland, dropping a head decision to Leinster (Majestic Warrior) while finishing a neck ahead of Bound For Nowhere (The Factor).

The latter makes just the 15th start of his career and second at Kentucky Downs, where he annexed the 2018 Tourist Mile. A very impressive winner of a seven-furlong Belmont allowance last October, the 6-year-old entire failed by a head in the GIII San Simeon S. at Santa Anita, skipped the trip to Royal Ascot he’d made each of the last three seasons and instead ran a cracking race in the Shakertown.

Kanthaka (Jimmy Creed) can improve in his second start off a 13-month absence. The chestnut was set what appeared to be a pretty tall task in returning to action in the GI Jaipur S. on the Belmont S. undercard, but he came to win the race at the eighth pole, only to be run down by the talented Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom).

Stubbins (Morning Line), a close fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was a troubled third in the May 23 GIII Daytona S. at Santa Anita and was right on a sizzling pace in the Jaipur before weakening to fourth. He handled this course nicely when runner-up in last year’s GIII Franklin-Stamps S.

Imprimis (Broken Vow) was 2 3/4 lengths behind Totally Boss in fourth in this event last year and was across the line first in the GIII Troy S. first off a nine-month layoff, only to be controversially disqualified to third.

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Arklow, ‘Alpha’ Have Score to Settle in Kentucky Turf Cup

Arklow (Arch) and Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) each make their third appearances in the $1-million Kentucky Turf Cup going a full circuit of the track at Kentucky Downs, with the former looking to add to his victory in the race in 2018 and Zulu Alpha trying to cement his status as this country’s best hope for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf in trying to annex the Turf Cup back-to-back.

Zulu Alpha is in career form at age seven and is a neck away from being unbeaten in four starts this term. After defeating the globetrotting Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in January, he beat future GI United Nations S. hero Admission Office (Giant’s Causeway) by a length in the GII Mac Diarmida S. the following month before just missing in the GII Pan American S. Mar. 28. He overcame a very slow pace to best Postulation (Harlan’s Holiday) by 3/4 of a length in Keeneland’s GIII Elkhorn S. July 12 and is strictly the one they’ll be gunning for.

Arklow was beaten soundly into second last year and is in search of his first victory since annexing last year’s GI Turf Classic at Belmont. Only fifth in the Pegasus, albeit at a trip short of his best, finished a head behind Admission Office in the GIII Louisville S. June 13 at Churchill ahead of a sixth in the Elkhorn. He adds blinkers off a fourth when favored last time in the U.N.

Hierarchy (Point of Entry), a solid second to subsequent GI Old Forester Bourbon Woodford Classic runner-up Factor This (The Factor) in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup over soft Ellis turf Aug. 2; and Saratoga allowance winner He’s No Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid), rate longshot glances.

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Ny Traffic Possible for Preakness

Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), who exited an eighth-place finish in last Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby with a cut in his left front ankle, remains possible for the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3, according to Saffie Joseph Jr.

“We got a couple cuts,” said Joseph. “He has a staple in his ankle from a cut he got. It looks like he should be OK. Within seven to 10 days we’ll decide. The main thing is the staple and when it gets taken out, how it’s going to be.”

Ny Traffic also lost his right front shoe in the Derby, in which he showed early speed to chase pacesetter and eventual winner Authentic while racing five wide before tiring.

“Would I say he ran his best race? No,” Joseph said. “I don’t know when he lost his shoe. When you’re at that level, you need to have everything go right. He wasn’t the best horse in the race to begin with, so he can’t afford to give away advantages.”

Ny Traffic, who came within a nose of defeating victorious Authentic in the July 18 GI Haskell at Monmouth, won his first start for Joseph in a Jan. 11 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream. Prior to the Haskell, the New York-bred was third in the GII Risen Star S. before finishing runner-up in the GII Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.

MGSW Tonalist’s Shape (Tonalist), fifth as the favorite in the GIII Charles Town Oaks last time out, is being considered for the GII Black-Eyed Susan on the Preakness undercard, according to Joseph.

“She’s back in Florida now,” he said. “We haven’t decided what to do with her yet. It’s possible she could run there.”

Tonalist’s Shape captured the GIII Forward Gal S. and GII Davona Dale during Gulfstream’s 2019-2020 Championship Meet.

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Three Finalists for Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

Panelists have selected three finalists for the 14th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, which will honor titles published in 2019. The three books include “Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track,” by various authors, from Louisville Story Program, edited by Joe Manning; “Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory,” by Lenny Shulman; and “The Triumph of Henry Cecil: The Authorised Biography,” by Tony Rushmer.

A total of 15 submissions were made this year before being narrowed down to the top three with regard to the late Dr. Ryan’s likely preferences. The businessman established the award in 2006 to recognize the best books published about racing, culminating with an awards ceremony and a $10,000 prize.

The announcement of finalists would normally have concluded with an awards ceremony this past April at the Ryan family’s Castleton Lyons near Lexington, but circumstances surrounding COVID-19 altered the timeline. Although a ceremony to celebrate the winner is currently undetermined, it will likely take place in November, whether or not it is able to be done in person.

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