Set Piece Returns to Pimlico for BWI Turf Cup

Set Piece  and defending champion Field Pass , both graded stakes winners in their only previous trips to historic Pimlico Race Course, and Pao Alto , a European group 2 winner yet to run in the U.S., are among a field of seven entered for the $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup (G3T) Sept. 10.

The 14th running of the one-mile BWI Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up headlines a 10-race program that features four stakes worth $475,000 in purses.

Juddmonte's British homebred Set Piece was a popular winner of the 1 1/16-mile Dinner Party (G2T) on Preakness Day May 21, employing his usual come-from-behind style to win by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths. It was the sixth career stakes win and second in graded company for the 6-year-old Dansili  gelding, a 10-time winner of $753,323 in purses.

"He kind of needs a setup, but he's honest enough and always seems to show up and put in a good effort," two-time defending Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox said. "Having won the Dinner Party, we know he likes the course. It definitely adds to our confidence level."

Winner of the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) and runner-up in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) last summer, Set Piece followed up his Dinner Party triumph by running fifth in the one-mile Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3T) July 15 at Saratoga Race Course, a race where he was blocked behind horses into deep stretch and wound up beaten 3 1/4 lengths. Last out, the late runner ended up a non-threatening fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Arlington Million (G1T) over Churchill Downs' immature turf course, which has been used infrequently this year amid troubles in the first year of racing over it. It was laid down with sod last fall.

Sheldon Russell gets the riding assignment on Set Piece from post 6 as co-topweight of 124 pounds.

Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass was forwardly placed in last year's BWI Turf Cup and got patient handling from jockey Victor Carrasco to find room along the inside late and get up to win by a neck. He is 1-for-5 this year, recording his one victory by disqualification. He comes off an eighth in the Arlington Million.

"The last race over at Churchill, it was really more of a dirt track than a turf track, and he didn't handle it very well, so it was disappointing," Three Diamonds' Kirk Wycoff said.

A 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid , Field Pass was named Maryland's champion 3-year-old male in 2020 and champion turf male in 2021.

Dylan Davis is named to ride the Mike Maker trainee, who is cross-entered in Saturday's WinStar Mint Million (G3T) at Kentucky Downs.

Wertheimer & Frere's Pao Alto will be making his North American debut in the BWI Turf Cup. The French-bred gelding won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (G2) Feb. 18 at Doha Racecourse in Qatar and most recently finished fifth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Prix du Muguet (G2) May 8 at Saint-Cloud in France.

"He came to us about a month or two ago," trainer Graham Motion said. "He's obviously a pretty useful horse. He's been very straightforward in the morning. I feel like every time we've worked him, he's improved. He's kind of getting the hang of the different training over here."

Pao Alto has breezed four times over the all-weather surface at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., since mid-August. Jevian Toledo will be aboard.

Bizzee Channel , Sifting Sands , Public Sector , and English Tavern  complete the lineup.

Entries: Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, September 10, 2022, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:08 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Public Sector (GB)	Junior Alvarado	120	Chad C. Brown	5/2
2	2Pao Alto (FR)	Jevian Toledo	124	H. Graham Motion	7/2
3	3Bizzee Channel (KY)	Johan Rosado	122	Lacey Gaudet	15/1
4	4Field Pass (MD)	Dylan Davis	124	Michael J. Maker	8/1
5	5Sifting Sands (GB)	Feargal Lynch	122	Chad C. Brown	4/1
6	6Set Piece (GB)	Sheldon Russell	124	Brad H. Cox	2/1
7	7English Tavern (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	120	Hamilton A. Smith	20/1