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Record $80M Bet on ’22 Kentucky Downs Meet

The FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs concluded Wednesday with record wagering topping $80 million for the seven-day run. Purses again set a record, reaching almost $18 million paid out to horse owners.

With $12,896,355 bet on Wednesday's closing card, total wagering on the meet reached $80,175,928, clipping Kentucky Downs' previous record of $74,088,532 over six days last year for an increase of 8 percent. A record $21,065,982 was bet on Saturday Sept. 10. The average field size was 10.61 horses, the highest since 2019.

The record wagering comes in spite of adverse weather on both weekends during the meet that began Thursday Sept. 1. The last four races on Saturday Sept. 3 had to be rescheduled. Both Sundays were significantly impacted, with the entire Sept. 4 card transferred to Monday Sept. 5 and the last nine of 11 races carded for Sept. 11 moved to Tuesday, Sept. 13.

“It was a fantastic meet, with world-class racing despite the challenges,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing. “Every weekend we ran, we were meteorologists. Losing both Sundays and having to shift one card to a Tuesday is not ideal. It was a testament to track superintendent Butch Lehr and the track crew how well the course held together. For us, along with our horsemen and horseplayers, to persevere and get to $80 million is huge.”

Participation was broad-based: An even 100 trainers ran at least one horse, with Mike Maker leading the way with 66 starts – more than double No. 2 Steve Asmussen's 32. Ninety-eight unique owners or ownership groups participated, highlighted by Three Diamonds Farms' 21 starters. Sixty-two jockeys rode at least one race, led by meet-leader Tyler Gaffalione (nine wins) riding 66 of 73 races.

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Red Knight Upsets Kentucky Turf Cup

Red Knight blew up the tote at 15-1 in the GII Kentucky Turf Cup S. at Kentucky Downs Saturday, earning a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. Breaking sharply from his inside post, the chestnut settled back near the rear with just three of his 11 rivals beat through an opening half-mile in :49.72. Inching up a bit, but still biding his time through three-quarters in 1:14.52, Red Knight snuck up the outside to be within striking distance approaching the far turn. Four wide at the top of the lane, the gelding hit the front in mid-stretch and held off a late charge from Gufo and Another Mystery to spring the upset.

“He ran a great race at Colonial Downs,” said winning rider Gerardo Corrales. “This is the perfect distance for him, 12 furlongs. Gufo is a three-time Grade I winner. When Gufo came next to Red Knight, Red Knight actually saw him eye to eye and he got additional energy. He just never quit. He just kept trying.”

He added, “I've won two graded races in all my life, and they were this week with Kitodan in the [GIII] Dueling Grounds Derby and now with Red Knight.”

“I thought he was gonna get beat,” said winning trainer Mike Maker. “He dug in and fought hard. He is a fighter, he is a tough horse. He rode hm great and got him to the outside and go the job done.”

Winner of the GIII Sycamore S. back in 2020, Red Knight checked in second to GISW Arklow (Arch) in the GII Louisville S. last May and was fifth to recent GI Sword Dancer S. winner Gufo in the Grand Couturier S. last July. Fifth again in Saratoga's GII Bowling Green S. last summer, he was sixth in the restricted John's Call S. there a month later and was shelved for the season. Transferred from Bill Mott to Mike Maker in the interim, Red Knight rallied to victory in the Colonial Cup S. last out July 27 after 13 months on the sidelines.

Pedigree Notes:

Red Knight is a half-brother to MSW Macagone. Isabel Away's most recent produce is a 4-year-old gelding named Druid (Magician {Ire}).

Saturday, Kentucky Downs
KENTUCKY TURF CUP S.-GII, $694,180, Kentucky Downs, 9-10, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:26.96, fm.
1–RED KNIGHT, 124, g, 8, by Pure Prize
                1st Dam: Isabel Away, by Skip Away
                2nd Dam: Indio Rose, by Alydar
                3rd Dam: Misukaw, by Northern Dancer
O/B-Trinity Farm, LLC (NY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Gerardo
Corrales. $317,130. Lifetime Record: 29-10-8-1, $1,210,388.
*1/2 to Macagone (Artie Schiller), MSW, $654,981. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gufo, 124, h, 5, Declaration of War–Floy, by Petionville.
O-Otter Bend Stables, LLC; B-John Little & Stephen Cainelli
(KY); T-Christophe Clement. $186,000.
3–Another Mystery, 124, h, 6, Temple City–Ioya Two, by
Lord At War (Arg). O/B-Team Block (IL); T-Chris M. Block.
$51,150.
Margins: NO, NK, 1. Odds: 12.02, 1.63, 15.67.
Also Ran: Highest Honors, Admission Office, Arklow, Glynn County, Who's the Star, Rogue Element, Breakpoint (Chi), Temple, Keystone Field. Scratched: Militarist.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Mendelssohn Gets First North American Winner at Ellis

Michael Hui homebred Fadethenoise (Mendelssohn), well-beaten, but troubled on Churchill dirt debut June 9, took beautifully to the turf course at Ellis Park Saturday, becoming the first North American winner for his freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) in graduating by a half-dozen lengths.

Sent off at 6-1, the chestnut broke alertly and attended a sharp pace while about four off the inside to the turn. Going better than the rail-skimming Spanish Dubloon (Malibu Moon) as they raced on the bend, Fadethenoise pinched a break in upper stretch and pulled well clear through the final furlong.

Fadethenoise is the first starter for Hey Paige, a daughter of the treble stakes-placed Nina Fever (Borrego), herself the dam of GI Frizette S. heroine Nickname (Scat Daddy). The latter's first foal, Starry Eyed (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), topped last year's Goffs Orby Sale on M.V. Magnier's bid of €1.5 million. Hey Paige is also responsible for a yearling City of Light filly and a filly foal by Outwork.

Fadethenoise is the second winner overall for Mendelssohn, who was represented by the debuting Shaqra'a Sultan (KSA) on the dirt surface at Ta'if in Saudi Arabia June 30. It was Magnier's name on the docket at $3 million when Mendelssohn, the half-brother to boom sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) and to four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder (Henny Hughes), topped the 2016 Keeneland September Sale, and he would go on to upset the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf before demolishing his rivals in the G2 UAE Derby the following season. Mendelssohn was also runner-up in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and was third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup before retiring to stud. He stood the 2022 breeding season at Ashford for $35,000 and his first crop of 2-year-olds sold for up to $1.3 million this year.

4th-Ellis, $60,000, Msw, 7-16, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.35, gd, 6 lengths.
FADETHENOISE (c, 2, Mendelssohn–Hey Paige, by Stay Thirsty) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $37,138. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O/B-Michael Hui (KY); T-Michael J Maker.

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Lady Scarlet Pounces Late in Miss Preakness

Former claimer Lady Scarlet recorded a career-high victory Friday when coming from off the pace to take the GIII Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico. Allowed to survey the pace in third early as 4-5 favorite Happy Soul, prompted by Gimmick, led the way through opening fractions of :23.01 and :45.58, the dark bay was given the cue by Irad Ortiz, Jr. while swinging out wide turning for home. Slowly reeling in the battling leaders down the lane, she took over and powered clear to score by 3 3/4 lengths over Happy Soul, who out slugged Gimmick to finish second.

“I got the perfect trip,” said Ortiz. “She broke from a great position. I waited for the time to roll, and she did very well. She did everything right, everything perfect. They went out a little fast and I was right there behind them and waited for the time to go. I had plenty left.”

Trainer Mike Maker added, “We left it up to Irad to be creative. If they hooked up on the lead, so be it. If they gave it to us, so be it. She's won on the lead before, and she's won coming from off [the pace]. So it worked perfectly. I think she's a good horse and there's plenty of races out there.”

As to the beaten favorite, John Velazquez said, “She broke good and got good position. I don't think she ran her 'A' race today. Last time out [sixth in the Apr. 8 GI Ashland S.], she was flat. Today, she was mad but she wasn't herself.”

Picked up by current connections for what now looks like a bargain $150,000 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claimer at Churchill in November, the filly faded to fifth after setting the pace facing optional claimers at Oaklawn in December.

“It sounds like a lot, which it is, but with the purse structure that there is, the prices of horses has gone up.”

Given some time off following that effort, she returned a winner when coming from just off the pace going six panels at Oaklawn Feb. 26 and made it two straight with a win in Aqueduct's Cicada S. Mar. 19. Weakening late while trying to extend her speed an extra furlong in the GIII Beaumont S. Apr. 10, she finished fourth.

Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Lady Scarlet becomes the 14th winner for GI Belmont S. winner Union Rags. She is out of SW and GSP Exclude, who is a half-sister to MGSW Exhi (Maria's Mon) and listed winner Diluvien (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}). This represents the prolific family of Canadian Horse of the Year Franfeluche (Northern Dancer), dam of HOTY L'Enjoleur (Buckpasser), champion La Voyageuse (Tentam) and Grade II winner D'Accord (Secretariat). This is also the extended family of French Highweight juvenile Holy Roman Emperor.

Friday, Pimlico
MISS PREAKNESS S.-GIII, $150,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.07, ft.
1–LADY SCARLET, 120, f, 3, by Union Rags
              1st Dam: Exclude (GB), by Include
              2nd Dam: Soldera, by Polish Numbers
              3rd Dam: La Pepite, by Mr. Prospector
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($72,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Paradise Farms Corp. & David Staudacher; B-Popatop, LLC
(KY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $90,000. Lifetime
Record: 9-4-2-0, $303,530. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Happy Soul, 124, f, 3, Runhappy–Cowgirl Lucky, by Stephen
Got Even. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Gayla Rankin; B-Harris Training Center, LLC (KY); T-Wesley A.
Ward. $30,000.
3–Gimmick, 120, f, 3, Into Mischief–Quick Flip, by
Speightstown. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($450,000 Ylg '20
FTKSEL). O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Spendthrift Farm,
LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $15,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 1. Odds: 2.70, 0.80, 9.80.
Also Ran: Verylittlecents, Saucy Lady T, La Casa d'Oro. Scratched: Sweet Solare, Under the Stars.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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