Pin Up Betty Looks for More Graded Success in Pucker Up

With the lucrative Kentucky Downs meeting right around the corner, Kentucky's top turf horses begin preparations with a chance to earn automatic invitations on the second and final preview day at Ellis Park Aug. 4.

Three-year-old fillies take center stage Sunday in the $400,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T) over 1 1/8 miles, the weekend's lone graded event.

Three Diamonds Farm's homebred Pin Up Betty  enters as the 9-5 favorite and the lone graded winner in the field of 10. The daughter of Constitution   took a liking to the Churchill Downs turf this spring, breaking her maiden by five lengths May 9 before a 1 1/2-length score in the June 1 Regret Stakes (G3T).

Trainer Mike Maker accepted the invitation to Aqueduct Racetrack to compete July 6 in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) where she ran a respectable fourth at 28-1.

The earner of $349,365 teams up with Preakness-winning jockey Jaime Torres for the first time in her Kentucky homecoming.

Mo Fox Givin  always seems to be right there at the wire but has been unable to breakthrough at the stakes level. She looked a winner June 29 in the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs, but was nailed in the last jump by Dancing N Dixie .

The owner and trainer duo of Gary Barber and Mark Casse who defeated the Mo Town   filly must have been impressed by her performance since they acquired Mo Fox Given from Woo Pig Stables and trainer Ron Moquett since that start.

Ladies Turf Mile

One race prior, the older fillies and mares get an opportunity in the $250,000 KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile Stakes.

Augustin Stable's hombred Regal Realm  won last year's Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) and would receive an all-expense paid invitation to defend her title with a win Sunday at Ellis. The 5-year-old Animal Kingdom mare returned from a 7 1/2-month layoff July 6 with a half-length defeat when fifth in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Favored on the morning line in the full 14-horse field is Whitham Thoroughbreds' homebred and multiple grade 3 winner Walkathon , who has proven dangerous when allowed to set the pace.

Turf Sprint

The sprinters get into action in the $250,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Sprint Stakes, and the race appears a wide-open affair.

Hammer Time Stable and Sport of Kings Racing Partnership's Coppola  is favored amongst the 12 on the morning line at 3-1. After finishing 3 3/4 lengths behind top sprinter Cogburn  in consecutive starts, the son of Into Mischief   broke through with an easy 6 1/4-length win in the off-the-turf William Garrett Handicap in Indianapolis.

Those looking for prices have plenty of chances as the favorite breaks from post 11 of 12, including a pair of intriguing 3-year-olds entering off stakes victories: Bear River  and Joe Shiesty .

Turf Cup

The previews culminate in the 10th race with the 1 1/4-mile $300,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes, drawing 12 runners and two also-eligibles in pursuit of the invitation to the $2 million main event at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7.

Old Kentucky Home's Classic Causeway  has been winless since his surprise victory in the 2022 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T), but returns to the grass for the first time since an excursion to England last summer.

Allen Stable's Siege of Boston , third in this event last year, came up just a half-length shy of his first graded win June 15 in the Monmouth Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park, earning him morning-line favoritism at 5-2.