Da Big Hoss Leads Field of Nine in Kentucky Turf Cup 2016

Tomorrow’s Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup highlights the Saturday card at Kentucky Downs. The 1 ½ miles turf event is headed up by last year’s winner Da Big Hoss, who has clearly shown a love for long turf races. At five-years-old, the son of Lemon Drop Kid is doing better than ever and looks for his twelfth overall win. The field for the Kentucky Turf Cup is below:

1.) Rum Tum Tugger (30-1) has had a few stakes attempts between Saratoga and Belmont Park, but has not fared well. His lone stakes win was in May of this year when he won the Secretariat Stakes at Great Meadow going 1 ½ miles on the turf. Three starts back, Rum Tum Tugger finished last in the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, won by Da Big Hoss, and he enters off a second-to-last place effort in the John’s Calls Stakes at Saratoga. It’s not likely the Kentucky Turf Cup will be the race for him to step up.

2.) Bullards Alley (10-1) is not left out of the question, but he is facing familiar competitors that have beaten him. He started the year running fifth in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup, another race won by Da Big Hoss. Bullards Alley garnered wins at Churchill Downs in an allowance/optional claiming event and the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap before finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes, won by up and coming competitor Greengrassofyoming. Bullards Alley stands a good shot at hitting the board in this field.

3.) Seve’s Road (6-1) comes in from the California circuit off an allowance/optional claiming win at Del Mar. He finished third of four in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap, finishing 11 ¾ lengths behind a winning Hard Aces. Before his attempt at graded stakes on dirt, Seve’s Road scored in an allowance/optional claiming at Santa Anita going 1 ½ miles on the turf. If his recent turf races are any indicator, he has a fair shot at getting on the board as well.

4.) Life’s Journey (8-1) was second to Seve’s Road last time out at Del Mar. His last win came in November of 2015 in an allowance/optional claimer at Santa Anita. Out of 25 starts, Life’s Journey has only found the winner’s circle twice, and a win against Da Big Hoss in a long turf event looks tough. Life’s Journey’s past performances suggests he likes to rally late, so he could possibly appreciate the longer distance.

5.) Behesht (10-1) is lightly raced compared to his competitors. In his 10 starts, he has three wins in Europe. He ran twice at Churchill Downs since coming to the U.S., finishing ninth and seventh respectively in the Opening Verse and Grade 2 Wise Dan. With Kentucky Downs having a European style course, Behesht could stand a better chance at finishing higher than his first two U.S. outings.

6.) Power Foot (6-1) also ships in from California. His last victory was in January 2015, when he took a Santa Anita allowance/optional claimer at 1 ½ miles on the turf. He comes in off a seventh place effort in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap. While he ran third three times in Grade 2 company in 2015, he has failed to be higher than fourth in four starts this year. He most likely needs an easier spot to get back in the money.

7.) Da Big Hoss (7-5) has been nothing but consistent and is in a great position to defend his title. He won his first stakes in last year’s John’s Call after being claimed by Skychai Racing, LLC and has won four of five starts this year, all in stakes company. He enters Saturday’s race off a three race win streak for trainer Mike Maker featuring the Grade 2 Elkhorn, the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, and the Grade 3 American St. Leger. Da Big Hoss will be the horse to beat.

8.) Verger’s (50-1) first and only win came just over a year ago in a maiden claiming event at Saratoga. Since then he has been no better than third in allowance company, and comes in off a last place effort in a starter allowance at Saratoga. With only seven races, Verger has the least experience in the field and does not look like he will threaten here.

9.) Greengrassofyoming (7-2) may have finished fourth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, but he was right up there with the top three at the wire. He also took the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes and an allowance/optional claiming race at Churchill Downs. If anyone is able to beat Da Big Hoss in the Kentucky Turf Cup, his stablemate Greengrassofyoming seems to have the best chance with his recent form.

By Christine Oser