Front Run the Fed leads full field in Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint

Saturday's Grade 3, $700,000 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs is a fantastic betting race.

The 6-furlong sprint features Totally Boss, a hefty 9-2 favorite, over a trio of 5-1 choices in the intriguing Front Run the Fed, multiple graded-stakes winner Kanthaka and last year’s Tourist Mile winner, Bound for Nowhere.

Totally Boss has raced only twice this year, most recently rallying strongly only to lose Keeneland’s Shakertown (G2) by a head to his Rusty Arnold-trained stablemate Leinster. Totally Boss could join Hold the Salt (2008-2009) as the only repeat winner of the stakes.

Bound for Nowhere scratched out of last Saturday’s $250,000 turf sprint at Churchill Downs to run for the bigger purse. He also has run twice this year, a pair of narrow losses that included third by a total of a neck in the Shakertown. Front Run the Fed, coming in off a Belmont Park allowance race, will be flying late as he seeks to win for the fifth time in his last seven starts. Kanthaka, who was briefly on the Kentucky Derby trail in 2018 while based in California, has raced just once this year, finishing second by a head to the classy mare Oleksandra in Belmont’s Jaipur (G1) in his first start for trainer Graham Motion.

Stubbins was second in last year’s Franklin-Simpson (G3) at Kentucky Downs behind his Doug O’Neill-trained stablemate Legends of War then beat older horses in Keeneland’s Woodford (G2) and finished a fast-flying fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Imprimis, fourth in last year’s Turf Sprint, has raced only once this year, finishing first in Saratoga’s Troy Stakes only to be disqualified to third.

Archidust is 2 for 2, in a pair of small stakes at Monmouth Park, since being sent to trainer Steve Asmussen. He was fourth in last year’s Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson in his only prior turf start.

American Anthem makes his first start for trainer Mike Maker and first start on turf. The 6-year-old horse was a two-time Grade 2 winner on dirt when trained by Bob Baffert and most recently was third in New York’s Carter (G1) for trainer Danny Gargan.

Chicago shipper Richiesinthehouse boasts 14 wins out of 21 starts, including going 12 for 16 on synthetic surfaces.

The Turf Sprint is the 11th race on Kentucky Downs' Saturday card, with a 6:36 p.m. ET post time.