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Thirty Thou Kelvin Shows Resilience For Virginia Oaks Score

SJB Stable's Thirty Thou Kelvin was headed in the stretch but dug deep to come back and win the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks by a neck Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.04 across a firm turf course, Thirty Thou Kelvin led every step except a few strides in the stretch when Alpha Bella poked a nose in front to her outside at the furlong marker.

Under two-time Colonial riding champion Trevor McCarthy, Thirty Thou Kelvin broke with alacrity and took command with seven sophomores behind her, most immediately being Alpha Bella who bided her time as the two fillies held their positions through both turns.

As the field began breathing down their necks, Alpha Bella got the first jump and seemed to put the leader away, but Thirty Thou Kelvin resiliently found more along the rail to come back to triumph, holding off Root Cause by a neck. It was another neck back to Alpha Bella.

With back-to-back stakes victories, the Bolt d'Oro filly, trained by John Terranova II, adds $150,000 to boost her bankroll to $387,640 while improving her record to 4-0-2 from 11 starts.

“I was really shocked to be on the lead,” McCarthy said. “When the five (Broadway Girls) acted up to my inside in the gate, I thought I'd make sure to get a good break. This filly jumped right out of there, and John and Tanya (Terranova) said just be confident with her and don't take away anything that comes easy. After she broke in front, she turned off in the first turn and had her ears pricked down the backside. I tried to get away from them at the five-sixteenths pole, but it wasn't until she had company that she said, 'It's game time, let's fight.' I'm super happy for the connections. I love it here at Colonial Downs. It's the best turf course in the country.”

Sent off at odds of more than 11-1, Thirty Thou Kelvin returned $25.80.

Bred in Kentucky by Horseshoe Racing LLC, Thirty Thou Kelvin is out of the Midshipman mare Wealthy Shipman. She sold to Stephen J. Barberino Accumulation Trust at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, where Brookdale Sales consigned her.

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Bay Storm Caps Million-Dollar Double For Trainer In Ladies Turf Sprint

Gritty Bay Storm withstood non-stop pace pressure and the late charge from Wakanaka on Saturday to win the $1-million AGS Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) by a neck at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas, who was winning his second $1-million race on the card following Regal Realm's victory in the Castle Hill Gaming Ladies Turf (G3), Bay Storm emphatically made amends for her runner-up finish in last year's edition of the race.

Getting to the lead was an important element as was past success over the Kentucky Downs course. A year ago, the daughter of Kantharos owned by Bridlewood Farm, was not in front at any of the calls and finished a nose behind Campanelle.

Though she had company throughout the 6½-furlong race on Saturday, once she gained the advantage, none of the other six horses in the field was able to get in front of her and Florent Geroux, who also piloted Regal Realm for Thomas.

Most of the time, Tony Ann and jockey Tyler Gaffalione were on her right flank as she set fraction of :22.63, :45.80, and 10:10.41. Wakanaka came with a strong run from the back of the field, pulled alongside the leading pair at the sixteenth pole but could not get past them.

“She broke in the air,” Geroux said. “She recovered and came back on the inside of Tyler and made the lead. She ran great here last year on this track. It was a big advantage. She is a fighter. It's very simple here: They either like it or they don't. She fought today.”

Bay Storm completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.06 and paid $7.72. Wakanaka, a slim 5-2 favorite over Bay Storm, edged Tony Ann by a head for second.

Thomas said the victory took some of the sting out of last year's loss.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “She really deserves this. She's got a crazy-good resume. I think that's her (17th) lifetime start and she's only been off the board twice. It's a real credit to her, a graded stakes winner. George Isaacs and the Bridlewood team have been really patient with her. It's kind of like a bow on a present. It feels good to have gotten her that win.”

Bay Storm was the fourth winner Saturday that had either won before or run very well over the distinctive Kentucky Downs course.

“Some horses have an affinity (for the course),” Thomas said. “She's certainly taken to this track real well. The common thread is all the winners we've had, they'll run on anything. I don't know if they just like the track or they're just tough. Everything we've won with, they're tough hardy front-end type of horses.”

Thomas said that with Wakanaka charging the contact with Tony Ann in the stretch probably was a positive.

“There were a couple of dodgy moments,” he said. “Honestly, the filly on the outside bumping her a couple of times probably fired her up. That probably helped us get to the wire the way we did, kind of made her dig down a little deeper. But that's what we expect from her.”

Thomas has two other wins in $1-million races on his resume courtesy of Catholic Boy in the 2018 Travers (G1) and Belmont Derby (G1). Saturday's wins by Bay Storm and Regal Realm marked his first daily double in $1-million dollar tests.

“I was actually thinking that earlier, being here and winning two races, basically the monetary equivalent of the Travers, is a pretty big deal,” he said.

“My family and I recently moved to Kentucky. This is home. So we've had a good kind of homecoming here.”

Thomas said he relocated to Kentucky in search of more opportunities. Right now he is based at Turfway Park.

Wakanaka, co-owned by Team Valor and Gary Barber, has been a consistent performer and has finished in the top three in 16 of her 20 career starts.

“She came running,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “It looked for a second that we might win the race. It was a good run.

Bred in Kentucky by Candy Meadows LLC, Bay Storm was produced by the Midshipman mare Stormy Regatta, a multiple stakes winner who was graded-placed.

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Integration Takes Virginia Derby In Just Second Start, Sets Course Record

West Point Thoroughbred and Woodford Racing LLC's Integration came flying down the center of the track to get the best of Program Trading in Saturday's $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs.

Covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.41 over a firm outer turf course, the 3-year-old trained by Shug McGaughey set a course record, .06 seconds faster than Flippant's effort set Aug 31, 2021.

Under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, the 3-year-old Quality Road colt relaxed nicely staying two-wide near the back as Runaway Storm blitzed through early fractions of :22.80 and :46.80. The 3-5 favorite Program Trading got the first jump on the leader in the homestretch, but having followed him throughout, Integration shot by with a perfectly timed move to put 1 1/4 lengths between him and the Chad Brown trainee.

The Virginia Derby was just Integration's second career start. On August 12 at Colonial Downs, he broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course, winning by 6 1/2 lengths.

“Shug felt his debut here would be the best spot for his first race,” said Dawn Lenert, the chief marketing officer and director of partner relations for West Point Thoroughbreds. “Although it was unconventional, Shug felt a graded stake would be the right spot for his second race, and when a Hall of Fame trainer tells you you're going to come back in a graded stake, you do it. After the race Kendrick said to me Integration's potential is limitless.”

Sent off at 6-1 Integration paid $15.40 for the win. Program Trading finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Runaway Storm. Dataman, Gigante, Activist Investing, Salute the Stars, and Ari Gold completed the order of finish.

“He does everything perfectly,” Carmouche said. “He warmed up well. I put him in the right spot and he made me look good. With Shug McGaughey on my side, you know you can be successful around the oval.”

Larkin Armstrong bred Integration from Grade 1 winner Harmonize, by Scat Daddy. He was purchased for $700,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, where Brookdale Sales consigned him.

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Get Smokin Dominates For 19-1 Kentucky Turf Cup Upset, Secures Breeders’ Cup Turf Berth

Get Smokin had things is own way Saturday at Kentucky Downs as he made all the pace and won $1.7-million FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) in a tour de force performance

Under Fernando De La Cruz, the 6-year-old Get Stormy gelding trained by Mark Casse went to the front at the start and was pursued by Santin throughout. Into the stretch he dug in to notch clear victory by 1 3/3 lengths, covering 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.66. Get Smokin clocked all the fractions–:24 flat for the opening quarter mile, :49.61 for the half, 14.18 for six furlongs and 1:37.99 for the mile.

Sent away 19-1 odds, Get Smokin paid $41.14 and collected $$972,220 winner's share of the purse, lifting his lifetime purse earnings to $1,650,497.

In a race for second, Spooky Channel edged Santin by a head for the runner-up spot. Santin finished a nose in front of Red Knight in fourth while Verstappen was another half length back in fifth in the 12-horse field.

With the win, Get Smokin earned an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita as Saturday's race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' series.

The win was the sixth in 27 lifetime starts for Get Smokin, whose previous graded stakes victories were 2021 and 2022 editions of the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3), and 2020 Hill Prince (G2). He came into Saturday's race with a pair of runner-up finishes: the Arlington (G3) June 3 at Churchill Downs and Wise Dane (G2) July 1 at Ellis Park as well as a fourth in the KY Down Preview Turf Cup Aug. 6 at Ellis Park as his springboard to Saturday's dominating performance.

Get Smokin is campaigned by Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC, BlackRidge Stables LLC, T-N-T Equine Holdings LLC, and Saratoga Seven Partners LLC. Bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm and James Greene Jr., his dam is the Smoke Glacken mare Hookah Lady. Hurstland Farm offered him at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, where Mary A. Sullivan bought him for $11,000.

Kentucky Turf Cup Quotes

Trainer Mark Casse, 1st, Get Smokin (by phone from Lexington) – “It really worked out good. I have to hand it to Harlan (Harlan Malter, managing partner of Ironhorse Racing Stable, co-owner). It was his idea and you know, sometimes you have to step out o the box and be willing to do it. What a horse he is! We have had him a couple of years and he is something. He gives you everything he has every time he runs. I knew he was in a good rhythm. Fernando rode him perfectly.

“I am excited for the owners but I am more excited for the horse.

“Going to the lead, that was the strategy. That's the way he runs. We felt we would establish a big lead and hope that everyone else would think he could not go that far. Guess what? He did. I am almost speechless. I watched him and he kept on running. Larry (track announcer Collmus) kept saying 'They might not catch him.' I have always said that a mile and a half is a differently run race. I see a lot of horses that can not go that far.”

“I have often told Harlan that he is the craziest owner I train for. But this was not a crazy idea.

“I don't know what is next. I just want to enjoy this one. We'll talk to Harlan and the rest of the owners. We want to enjoy this. It's a great win for a really good horse who gives you everything.”

Jason Barkley, trainer, runner-up Spooky Channel: “He tried every inch of the way. He ran a big race. I thought I would (run down the winner). He just kept trying (but) the track has been favoring speed. James did a good job getting to the rail, which is the best part of the track today. Ran big. Very proud of him.”

Note: Barkley is leaving training to pursue other endeavors in horse racing. Asked when he's leaving, he said, “Well, I guess after he's done running. I guess we'll have one more stop on the farewell tour.”

Trainer Brendan Walsh, 3rd, Santin, 5th Verstappen – “That is the way the track has been playing all day, really. It played out exactly the way I thought it would and my two were right behind him the whole way. We have no excuses. You can't take anything away from the winner. He ran his race and we didn't get him.”

Fernando De La Cruz, 1st Get Smokin (winning his first $1 million+ race): “We talked with Harlan and Mark. (They said) “just take him to the lead and see what happens.” It's a mile and a half, a long way to go. But the horse is a really nice horse. He just kept going, kept going. Thanks to God I got it done.”

(Does he ride much for Mark?) “Not really. The owner, I went with him in 2018 to the Breeders' Cup. That's the reason I got (the mount).”

Co-owner Harlan Malter (Get Smokin): “He's an absolute dream to own. He just lays it out for you every single time. I think he was just screaming for the humans to come up with a plan for him. We made a plan. Fernando won two Grade 2s for us on Bucchero, and we knew he was the man for the job. Watching the race, he did it to a tee. Look, I give it all to the horse, Mark, David. They've done an unbelievable job with the horse. The horse is just thriving. I said I want to run in this race, and Mark said to me, 'You're one of my crazier owners. This idea, I don't think is that crazy.' So I'm glad I have a trainer who is willing to listen to some of my crazy ideas.”

“We bought him and said he's a really good miler, a pretty good mile and a sixteenth horse. We got to figure out what he's great at. So we went to Dubai, went six furlongs. That didn't work out really well. So we said, 'well there's probably another distance to him.' We brought him back this year. Look, he's a horse that gets caught late. So you think if you keep stretching him out farther, it's going to be even harder for him to get it. We looked at it the opposite way: We just needed this horse to be able to do what he does best. He gallops at a very high rate of speed, and he has a huge heart. We actually were kind of forcing him to do things he couldn't do, meaning we were letting him stay too close, and the guys who could close on him were closing on him.

“We looked at this race. We wanted to test out at Ellis (in the 1 1/4 prep). Even though we ran fourth, we were happy. He ran a similar figure to what he was running at a mile and a sixteenth. We were all systems go. We kind of came up with the idea to have Fernando. We made a very specific plan, and it's amazing how well Fernando executed it.

“Look, they discounted him. Because he hadn't made it. I saw the handicappers, 'Well, he couldn't make it a mile and a quarter, how is he going to make it a mile and a half.' This horse just has a huge heart, carved out fractions that were workable for him, and they weren't going to catch him.”

(So now he's going to the Breeders' Cup) “Yeah. I will say this: We were not expecting to go to the Breeders' Cup and the Breeders' Cup Turf even 30 days ago. But as we got closer to this race, David Carroll, Mark's assistant at Churchill, his wife (Kim) who does a tremendous amount of work on him, every time I called they said how well he was doing. To have a 6-year-old horse in this type of form and doing this well, David said, 'Look, all I can tell you is he's doing unbelievable. Let's go for the whole thing.' We'd love to get back to the Breeders' Cup. The horse deserves that kind of attention. Obviously a very, very tough race to do it your second time going that difference in the Breeders' Cup.

“This is the biggest race we've ever won.”

(What are you thinking at the finish?) “Sometimes I sit there and I think I'm almost frozen, because you almost don't want to jinx it. You're watching the plan come to fruition, watching the horse give absolutely everything. I really probably didn't move until he was one stride (from the finish) and no one was going to catch him. You can hear my voice. I may not be speaking a lot tomorrow. To have a horse like this that just shows up every day and runs, it's just a privilege. It's why we own horses.”

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