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Kentucky Downs: Big fields fill 3 big-money Saturday stakes

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Kentucky Downs: Big fields fill 3 big-money Saturday stakes

Photo:

Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

The field is set for Kentucky Downs’ landmark Grade 3 Nashville Derby Invitational with its $3.1 million purse for Kentucky-breds and $1.9
million for other horses.

Twelve 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday’s 1 5/16-mile
turf stakes with another two invited as also-eligibles with the opportunity to
run if there are scratches.

Click here for Kentucky Downs entries and results.

Saturday’s card also includes the $1.5 million Ladies Turf
Sprint (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs and the $1.5 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf
(G3) at a mile. Both attracted overflow fields as did 10 of the 11 races on
Saturday’s program. The first post is at 1:25 p.m. EDT.

“Huge shout-out to the horsemen and our racing office,” Kentucky
Downs vice president of racing Ted Nicholson said. “Our goal is to improve
every year, and I’d say we’re achieving that mission. What’s really gratifying
is how geographically diverse these stakes fields are with horses coming from
all over, including from Europe.”

Kentucky Downs’ seven-day all-turf meet runs from Thursday
to Sept. 11.

N.Y. shippers will lure Nashville Derby bets

Three New York horses figure to be the Nashville Derby
favorites. Carson’s Run, winner of the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) in his
last start for trainer Christophe Clément; Belmont Derby Invitational (G1)
runner-up White Palomino, scratched by Chad Brown out of the postponed Saratoga
Derby to await this race; and Shug McGaughey-trained Cugino, Churchill Downs’
impressive Audubon winner who missed the Saratoga Derby with an untimely
temperature.

Kentucky is represented by Cameo Performance and Abrumar,
the top two finishers in Ellis Park’s $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville
Derby. Lagynos was second by a neck in Saratoga’s National Museum of Racing Hall
of Fame (G2) in his last start after collecting a second, two thirds and a
fourth in Kentucky stakes in his prior turf starts. 

Rothschild, third in the Oceanside at Del Mar in his only
start this year, ships in from California for trainer Tim Yakteen. Rothschild
finished 2023 with a second by a neck in Del Mar’s Cecil B. DeMille (G3) in his
turf debut.

The Nashville Derby had three changes to the original
invitations extended, and the 1 5/16-mile stakes will have three Europe-based
horses with the addition of Sea the Thunder for Great Britain trainer Ralph
Beckett. Sea the Thunder joins original invitees Stromberg for Ireland’s Joseph
O’Brien and Bellum Justum for England’s Andrew Balding. If their
accomplishments seem light compared with their American competitors, they have
more experience at longer distances and could be horses benefiting from the
firmer Kentucky Downs turf.

The new invitees include Wesley Ward-trained Navy Seal,
second in a Saratoga allowance race in his last start, and Todd
Pletcher-trained Nomos, second in Delaware Park’s 1 3/8-mile Kent. El Matador
and Hamilton’s Way are on the also-eligible list and may run if there are
scratches.

For Kentucky-breds, the Nashville Derby will be America’s
second richest race behind only the $5 million Kentucky Derby among stakes held
at one track. The $1.9 million base purse itself is the most lucrative turf
stakes in North America outside three Breeders’ Cup races.

Formerly known as the Dueling Grounds Derby, the Nashville Derby is carded as the eighth of 11 races with a post time of 5:16 p.m. EDT.

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk Rothschild Rothschild

Uncle Mo

5.39

Tim Yakteen

John R. Velazquez

3rd, Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

2 Horse Silk Abrumar Abrumar

Divisidero

5.09

Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.

Edgard J. Zayas

2nd, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

3 Horse Silk Navy Seal Navy Seal

Dubawi

0.00

Wesley A. Ward

Jamie Spencer

2nd, Sar AlwOC (7/27/24-R9)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, Sar AlwOC (7/27/24-R9)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

4 Horse Silk Stromberg Stromberg

Iffraaj

0.00

Joseph P. O’Brien

Dylan Browne McMonagle

11th, 2024 Hampton Court Stakes G3

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

11th, 2024 Hampton Court Stakes G3

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

5 Horse Silk White Palomino White Palomino

Kitten’s Joy

6.56

Chad C. Brown

Jose L. Ortiz

2nd, 2024 Belmont Derby G1

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, 2024 Belmont Derby G1

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

6 Horse Silk Bellum Justum Bellum Justum

Sea The Stars

0.00

Andrew Balding

Frankie Dettori

2nd, 2024 Gordon Stakes G3

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, 2024 Gordon Stakes G3

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

7 Horse Silk Sea The Thunder Sea The Thunder

Kingman

0.00

Cherie DeVaux

Brian J. Hernandez, Jr.

3rd, New MSW (10/25/23-R3)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, New MSW (10/25/23-R3)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

8 Horse Silk Carson's Run Carson’s Run

Cupid

6.89

Christophe Clement

Joel Rosario

1st, 2024 Saratoga Derby G1

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, 2024 Saratoga Derby G1

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

9 Horse Silk Cameo Performance Cameo Performance

Oscar Performance

0.00

Brendan P. Walsh

Tyler Gaffalione

1st, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

10 Horse Silk Nomos Nomos

Uncle Mo

5.07

Todd A. Pletcher

Julien R. Leparoux

2nd, Kent S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, Kent S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

11 Horse Silk Lagynos Lagynos

Kantharos

6.34

Steven M. Asmussen

Cristian A. Torres

2nd, 2024 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame G2

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, 2024 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame G2

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

12 Horse Silk Cugino Cugino

Twirling Candy

6.07

Claude R. McGaughey III

Flavien Prat

1st, Audubon S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, Audubon S.

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

13 Horse Silk El Matador El Matador

Include

0.00

Michael J. Maker

Jaime Torres

5th, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

5th, KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

14 Horse Silk Hamilton's Way Hamilton’s Way

Constitution

4.79

Raymond Handal

Gerardo Corrales

6th, Sar Allow (7/26/24-R7)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

6th, Sar Allow (7/26/24-R7)

2024 Nashville Derby Invitational G3

Dontlookbackatall heads Ladies Sprint

The first-, second- and fourth-place finishers of Saratoga’s
Caress (G3), Dontlookbackatall, Danse Macabre and Secret Money, are entered to
line up in the Ladies Turf Sprint.

The Caress was Clément-trained Dontlookbackatall’s third
straight stakes win, giving her an overall turf record of 11: 5-4-0. Danse
Macabre, trained by Kelsey Danner, rallied to take the lead late only to be
nailed at the finish at Saratoga. Secret Money, trained by Brendan Walsh, was
making her move when she found herself in tight at the sixteenth pole, settling
for fourth by a total of a half-length.

Secret Money won last year’s Music City, now a Grade 2, at
Kentucky Downs. Danse Macabre was second that day after capturing Kentucky
Downs’ Untapable at age 2.

Awesome Treat earned a spot in the starting gate by winning
Ellis Park’s $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint at 25-1 odds. Second
in a photo was Red Carpet Ready, a multiple graded-stakes winner on dirt who
was making her turf debut at Ellis with the Ladies Turf Sprint the target.

California-based Richard Baltas brings the 4-year-old filly
Ag Bullet, who is 5-for-6 on turf, including a win in Santa Anita’s Monrovia
(G3). Ruby Nell and Elm Drive also come from the West Coast.

Bling, third in the Ellis prep by a total of a neck, was
third in last year’s Music City. Kaufymaker, Ocean Club and Moon Ray also are
in the body of the race. Chicago-based Oeuvre, whose 16 wins include a Kentucky
Downs allowance race last year, is on the also-eligible list.

The Ladies Turf Sprint will be run as the ninth race
Saturday. It is scheduled for 5:50 p.m. EDT.

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk Ruby Nell Ruby Nell

Bolt d’Oro

6.53

Richard E. Mandella

Edwin A. Maldonado

6th, 2024 Gamely Stakes G1

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

6th, 2024 Gamely Stakes G1

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

2 Horse Silk Elm Drive Elm Drive

Mohaymen

6.19

Philip D’Amato

Flavien Prat

2nd, Daisycutter H.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, Daisycutter H.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

3 Horse Silk Ag Bullet Ag Bullet

Twirling Candy

5.09

Richard Baltas

Umberto Rispoli

1st, Osunitas S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, Osunitas S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

4 Horse Silk Dontlookbackatall Dontlookbackatall

Peace and Justice

6.47

Christophe Clement

Joel Rosario

1st, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

5 Horse Silk Ocean Club Ocean Club

Curlin

5.87

Jack Sisterson

Frankie Dettori

4th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

4th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

6 Horse Silk Kaufymaker Kaufymaker

Jimmy Creed

6.07

Wesley A. Ward

Gerardo Corrales

8th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

8th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

7 Horse Silk Moon Ray Moon Ray

Saxon Warrior

0.00

Fausto Gutierrez

Axel Concepcion

3rd, 2023 Prix Moonlight Cloud LS

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, 2023 Prix Moonlight Cloud LS

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

8 Horse Silk Secret Money Secret Money

Good Samaritan

5.67

Brendan P. Walsh

Tyler Gaffalione

4th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

4th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

9 Horse Silk Bling Bling

American Pharoah

4.34

Victoria H. Oliver

John R. Velazquez

3rd, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

10 Horse Silk Red Carpet Ready Red Carpet Ready

Oscar Performance

6.71

George R. Arnold II

Brian J. Hernandez, Jr.

2nd, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

11 Horse Silk Danse Macabre Danse Macabre

Army Mule

5.84

Kelsey Danner

Adam Beschizza

2nd, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

12 Horse Silk Awesome Treat Awesome Treat

Awesome Patriot

0.00

Justin Wojczynski

Sophie Doyle

1st, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, KY Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

13 Horse Silk Aussie Girl Aussie Girl

Starspangledbanner

0.00

William Walden

Frankie Dettori

4th, 2023 Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes LS

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

4th, 2023 Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes LS

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

14 Horse Silk Oeuvre Oeuvre

Shackleford

4.12

Chris M. Block

Jareth Loveberry

4th, Lady Carey Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

4th, Lady Carey Turf Sprint S.

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

15 Horse Silk Run for the Hills Run for the Hills

Runhappy

4.59

Mark E. Casse

Jose L. Ortiz

9th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

9th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

16 Horse Silk Zeitlos Zeitlos

Curlin

6.40

Steven M. Asmussen

Cristian A. Torres

5th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

5th, 2024 Caress G3

2024 Ladies Turf Sprint G2

Fluffy Socks leaves nest for Ladies Turf

Four-time graded-stakes winner Fluffy Socks, a millionaire
who is part of trainer Chad Brown’s deep arsenal of female turf milers and
distance horses, escapes her talented stablemates to run in the Kentucky Downs
Ladies Turf. She returns to the site of her first win four years ago.

Last year’s Ladies Turf winner Regal Realm is back. If she has
been disappointing in her two starts this year, trainer Jonathan Thomas
designed them as a means to getting back to Kentucky Downs after a long layoff.
Thomas also entered New York’s Perfect Sting winner Mouffy, also owned by
Augustin Stable.

The overflow field includes Ellis Park’s $250,000 Kentucky
Downs Preview Ladies Turf winner Walkathon, a multiple graded-stakes winner who
is 6-for-13 on turf. Last year’s runner-up Sparkle Blue, her Graham
Motion-trained stablemate Mission of Joy, Nadette, Implicated, Evvie Jets and 2021
Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies winner Turnerloose are the other graded-stakes
victors in the field. Stakes winners Spirit and Glory and Sacred Wish rounds
out the field.

The Ladies Turf goes as the 10th race Saturday with a
scheduled post time of 6:24 p.m. EDT.

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk Nadette Nadette

Outstrip

6.40

Neil D. Drysdale

Julien R. Leparoux

4th, 2024 Beverly D. Stakes G2

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

4th, 2024 Beverly D. Stakes G2

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

2 Horse Silk Sacred Wish Sacred Wish

Not This Time

6.37

George Weaver

Paco Lopez

2nd, 2024 Matchmaker Stakes G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, 2024 Matchmaker Stakes G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

3 Horse Silk Fluffy Socks Fluffy Socks

Slumber

7.02

Chad C. Brown

Joel Rosario

8th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

8th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

4 Horse Silk Implicated Implicated

Connect

6.54

Brendan P. Walsh

Tyler Gaffalione

1st, 2024 Nassau G2

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, 2024 Nassau G2

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

5 Horse Silk Mouffy Mouffy

Uncle Mo

6.30

Jonathan Thomas

Frankie Dettori

1st, 2024 Perfect Sting LS

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, 2024 Perfect Sting LS

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

6 Horse Silk Walkathon Walkathon

Twirling Candy

6.44

Ian R. Wilkes

Brian J. Hernandez, Jr.

1st, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

7 Horse Silk Turnerloose Turnerloose

Nyquist

6.11

Philip D’Amato

Martin Garcia

1st, Luther Burbank S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, Luther Burbank S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

8 Horse Silk Spirit And Glory Spirit And Glory

Cotai Glory

6.07

Robert N. Falcone, Jr.

Umberto Rispoli

3rd, 2024 Eatontown G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, 2024 Eatontown G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

9 Horse Silk Sparkle Blue Sparkle Blue

Hard Spun

6.48

H. Graham Motion

Jorge Ruiz

1st, Big Dreyfus S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

1st, Big Dreyfus S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

10 Horse Silk Mission Of Joy Mission Of Joy

Kitten’s Joy

6.70

H. Graham Motion

John R. Velazquez

6th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

6th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

11 Horse Silk Evvie Jets Evvie Jets

Twirling Candy

6.60

Mertkan Kantarmaci

Robert Pratt

7th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

7th, 2024 Diana Stakes G1

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

12 Horse Silk Regal Realm Regal Realm

Animal Kingdom

6.54

Jonathan Thomas

Jose L. Ortiz

8th, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

8th, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

13 Horse Silk Special Wan Special Wan

Belardo

0.00

Patrick T. Foley

Jamie Spencer

3rd, 2024 Brownstown Stakes G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

3rd, 2024 Brownstown Stakes G3

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

14 Horse Silk Dana's Beauty Dana’s Beauty

Not This Time

6.06

Michael J. Maker

Jose L. Ortiz

2nd, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

Entered

Last Race

Next Race

2nd, KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S.

2024 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf G3

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