Arklow Captures Kentucky Turf Cup for Second Time
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Photo: Coady Photography
Arklow wins the Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs
Leading into the Sept. 12 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3T), trainer Brad Cox expected the addition of blinkers in the 29th start of Arklow's career would result in improvement from the veteran campaigner.
This wasn't mere optimistic thinking. Wearing the headgear Saturday at Kentucky Downs, the 6-year-old was much closer to the pace and kept the same kick. The multi-millionaire pulled off a mild 5-1 surprise over Red Knight and favored Zulu Alpha in the $910,000, 1 1/2-mile turf race over soft going.
The son of Arch recorded his fifth graded stakes triumph and his second in the Kentucky Turf Cup after winning it in 2018 for owners Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway. He also avenged a local defeat to Zulu Alpha, who beat him in the 2019 race.
Arklow was always within a few lengths of the leaders on Saturday. He moved up to fourth behind modest early splits of :50.27 and 1:14.67 set early by Changi and Postulation. Then as Changi began to retreat, and Eons took the lead after a mile in 1:39.47, Arklow advanced.
He wrested command soon after 1 1/4 miles and withstood stretch bids from Red Knight and Zulu Alpha down the lane. He won by a length and a quarter over Red Knight, with Zulu Alpha another length back in third. The winner was timed in 2:28.66 for 1 1/2 miles, returning $13.60.
"I just nursed him around and he waited for my signal down the stretch. He was able to hold off those horses pretty easily," said jockey Florent Geroux.
"He was pretty sharp coming into this race," Cox said. "It's easy to say it now, but we had a lot of confidence that he would move forward with the blinkers. He likes it down here and obviously when it started raining it gave us even more confidence. He definitely likes a little juice in the ground, and he responded well."
Red Knight ran competitively n his first start since January. Zulu Alpha, on the other hand, was a bit slow into stride, and after looming at the top of the stretch, could not manage to pass the top two.
"The only thing I would say is that maybe the ground was getting away from him down the stretch," said jockey Tyler Gaffalione. "He was really digging in, trying to go get that horse, but it was just breaking away from him. Might be a little soft out there for him. It was a great performance. He tried hard the whole way. He's all class and hopefully we'll rebound in the Breeders' Cup."
The Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 7 at Keeneland could also be in the plans for Arklow, as it has been the past two years. He ran fourth in the 2018 edition and eighth last year after winning the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Belmont Park. Zulu Alpha was fourth in 2019.
Bred in Kentucky by John and Frank Penn, Arklow is one of two graded winners from the Empire Maker mare Unbridled Empire, the other being 2018 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) and American Turf Stakes (G2T) winner Maraud.
Jerry Crawford, president of Donegal, purchased Arklow for $160,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Penn Sales consignment.