Totally Boss Makes the Grade in Runhappy Turf Sprint

The competition of graded stakes winners proved to be no problem for Jim and Susan Hill's Totally Boss, who was a clear winner in the $684,640 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. 

As a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race, the Turf Cup victory awarded the 4-year-old Street Boss  gelding an automatic berth in Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. 

"Everybody was so high on him, and that's when you think something is going to go wrong," Jim Hill said of the Rusty Arnold trainee. "He was so cool in the paddock. I had high expectations for sure in this race. He's really turned it around, figured it out. He's having a great time. He spends half the time at our farm, Margaux, the other half with Rusty at the track. That just seems to suit him perfectly. He gets stronger every race, so we're happy."

One start earlier, Arnold sent Totally Boss to score his first stakes win in the Aug. 4 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Park. That victory was a rebound following a nose miss in a June 29 allowance at Churchill Downs, Totally Boss's only loss in five starts this year.

"We didn't think we could get in this race just as a non-stakes winner, so we went to the Ellis one to be in the 'Win and You're In' to this race," Hill said. "Your plan doesn't often work out but so far it's been great."

Totally Boss broke sixth Saturday under jockey Florent Geroux but was quick to get up to track the pace. The 4-1 shot settled in second behind Smart Remark, who set an opening quarter in :23.54. Shakertown Stakes (G2T) winner Imprimis was between third and fourth with champion Stormy Liberal, the two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner, and Troy Handicap (G3T) winner Leinster settled in fifth.

As the field came down the stretch, Totally Boss stuck his head in front and continued on to pull clear by 1 1/4 lengths. He wrapped up six furlongs in 1:09.21 on firm turf.

"When he broke sharp, I just took it from there," Geroux said. "He put me closer to normal, but he was traveling great. And when I asked him turning for him, he gave me his usual kick. He's a nice horse, and I think Rusty has him near the top of his form right now."

Smart Remark held for second and Leinster got up for third. Imprimis, Stormy Liberal, Undrafted, Wet Your Whistle, White Flag, Cautious Giant, and Jazzy Times completed the order of finish.

The Breeders' Cup is expected to be Totally Boss's next start, with the gelding heading back to the Margaux Farm before the championship race.

"We thought his race at Churchill showed he belonged," Arnold said. "His first two (this year) were condition allowance races but when he got beat, that was a good field. (Om) beat him that day by a nose and we thought it was a really good race. We had a lot of trouble and we thought at that point he was a good horse.

"Jim Hill picked the Ellis Park race. He said, 'I'm afraid if we go to New York, it may rain and things may go wrong.' He said let's go to Ellis and the 'Win and You're In' and he barely got up there but it was great because it got us in for this race."

Totally Boss was bred by Mike Pressley in Kentucky and is the first foal out of the Elusive Quality mare Totally Tucker. His dam foaled a Hard Spun  filly April 2 and was bred to Arrogate  this year.

The Hills purchased Totally Boss for $180,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where the bay was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. With Saturday's score, Totally Boss has a 6-1-1 record from 15 starts and $666,658 in earnings.

Morticia Goes All the Way in Ladies Sprint

Arnold was back in Kentucky Downs' winner's circle two races later when G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s Morticia played a successful game of "catch me if you can" in the $476,300 Spendthrift Farm Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T).

The victory put the consistent 5-year-old Twirling Candy  mare back in the money after finishing fourth in the Aug. 17 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

"It was great to see her come back," Arnold said. "There was a question of maybe if she had lost her edge. Her last race at Saratoga wasn't very good. We hope we found the reasons for it. Everyone was concerned about 6 1/2 furlongs (of the Ladies Sprint) but she had won at seven. I think this may even be better for her, the way she did it. I'm not sure this wasn't her best race."

Off at 5-1 under Tyler Gaffalione, Morticia broke sharp and set opening fractions of :22.55 and :46.27 through the first half-mile while maintaining a half-length advantage over Stillwater Cove. The pacesetter's lead lengthened as she approached the wire and was 1 3/4 lengths the best once she hit the wire.

The final time was 1:15.85.

"The track has been playing speed favoring all day," Gaffalione said. "I didn't want to take away anything that came easy. She broke so fast. So I just tried to settle her. She got in a nice rhythm around the turn. And when I asked her in the stretch, she really kicked home."

"I liked being in front by a couple but she's been caught a few times in the last few strides," Arnold said. "I didn't feel good until about about 16th pole. It was a nice day (to win two stakes). We love Kentucky Downs and it was a really good day."

A Little Bit Me, Oleksandra, Stillwater Cove, Painting Corners, Coexistence, Cool Beans, May Lily, Ruby Notion, Pastime, Raven's Lady, and Tiny Tina completed the order of finish.

Morticia is bound for the Oct. 11 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland, a race she won in 2017. That race could make her a millionaire, as her earnings sit at $992,149 after the Ladies Sprint. She holds an impressive 10-6-5 record from 25 starts.

Humphrey said she will join his broodmare band next year.

"It's a great pleasure, and it was most important to us that she could do it at 6 1/2 (furlongs)," the owner said, "because she's been so good at 5 and 5 1/2, and now she's proven she can get that distance against the best."

Bred in Kentucky by Humphrey and Arnold, Morticia is the first foal out of the Mr. Greeley mare Halloween Party, who foaled a Mastery  colt Jan. 30 and was bred back to the same stallion.

Video: Runhappy Turf Sprint S. (G3T)

Video: Spendthrift Farm Ladies Sprint S. (G3T)