Kentucky Downs: 2-year-olds have spotlight in $1 million races

Obliteration was a 10-length winner of Saratoga’s Grade 3 Sanford Stakes followed by a second in the Saratoga Special (G2). He makes his turf debut for trainer Sunday as the headliner in the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint.

Owned by Leland Ackerly Racing, Obliteration is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

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George Weaver-trained Johnny’s Red Storm, a four-length debut winner at Saratoga, figures to get a lot of play from bettors. He is co-owned by St. John’s University men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino. Weaver also entered Azizam, a three-time starter in England who makes his U.S. debut in the stakes.

Ben Colebrook is sending out 2-for-2 Trendsetter, winner of a $100,000 stakes at Colonial Downs. The field also includes Monmouth Park’s Tyro runner-up Win N Juice along with maiden-winners Zeus’s Echo, Lawyer Mason, Twilight Delight and Longshoreman. First-time starter Telecaster rounds out the field of 10 juveniles racing 6 1/2 furlongs.

Meringue leads field in Juvenile Fillies

Meringue, second in Saratoga’s Adirondack (G3) on dirt after winning on the grass at Churchill Downs for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, headlines the $1 million Juvenile Fillies.

Oscar’s Encore earned an 88 Brisnet Speed Rating in a winning debut at Saratoga for red-hot Joe Sharp, who tied Asmussen and Brendan Walsh as Kentucky Downs’ leading trainer last year. Oscar’s Encore is a daughter of the Mill Ridge Farm stallion Oscar Performance, whose progeny have an affinity for Kentucky Downs.

Loveliest, To a Flame, Rose Room, Chambourcin, Red Beretta, Soloist, Back Ring Buzz and I’ve Got the Honey also are in the mile stakes.