Ruby Nell, Fluffy Socks Lead Rich Kentucky Downs Stakes

Shortly after the $3.1 million Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) Aug. 31 at Kentucky Downs, the emphasis turns to the equine ladies with two races worth up to $1.5 million apiece for fillies and mares on the grass.

Short-distance runners are up first in the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T), a 6 1/2-furlong dash carded as the ninth race, followed by middle-distance types in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) at a mile, which is the 10th race and begins with a backstretch rise over the undulating course before a descent around the turn. 

Both races include $600,000 in purse supplements for Kentucky-bred horses through the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, meaning those foaled out of state compete for $900,000.

The Ladies Turf Sprint is the richest turf dash for fillies and mares in the United States and is primarily funded by slot-like historical horse racing gaming at Kentucky Downs and its off-track gaming locations.

All but two of the 12 entrants in the body of the Ladies Turf Sprint field were bred in Kentucky, including 7-2 favorite Ruby Nell  and 9-2 third choice Elm Drive , though each has raced mainly in California.

Spendthrift Farm's Ruby Nell, trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, won the one-mile Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park in March. Most recently, the 4-year-old daughter of Bolt d'Oro   attempted to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the May 27 Gamely Stakes (G1T) but yielded after setting the pace. She won the Unzip Me Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs last fall on turf at Santa Anita. Edwin Maldonado rides.

Little Red Feather's Elm Drive also won at that distance on turf at Santa Anita in 2023 in taking the Mizdirection Stakes. Last out, she finished a closing second in the five-furlong Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar July 27. Flavien Prat is aboard for trainer Phil D'Amato.

The field further includes Caress Stakes (G3T) winner Dontlookbackatall , a Pennsylvania-bred with Joel Rosario in the irons, and Awesome Treat  and Red Carpet Ready , 1-2 in the 5 1/2-furlong Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Ellis Park.

Justin Wojczynski, who trains Awesome Treat for Rakesh and Kumud Sikand, believes that the extra furlong and Kentucky Downs' long stretch will work in Awesome Treat's favor. 

"Once she uncorks herself and starts running, she's got a nice turn of foot, and she just keeps going. She's all heart and all racehorse," he said of the Sophie Doyle-ridden daughter of Awesome Patriot .

Fluffy Socks ReturnS to Kentucky Downs Four Years After Maiden Win

The Ladies Turf is headed by Mission of Joy  and Fluffy Socks —sixth and eighth, respectively, in the July 13 Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. 

Fluffy Socks, owned and bred by Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, returns to race at Kentucky Downs for the first time in nearly four years. After breaking her maiden there in September 2020, she has made 25 starts elsewhere for trainer Chad Brown.

Rosario is aboard the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Slumber  . She is 9-2 on the morning line.

Kumin also owns part of fellow graded stakes winner and 4-1 shot Mission of Joy, whom Graham Motion trains for RyZan Sun Racing and a separate Kumin-headed partnership, Madaket Stables. She is an Ontario-bred 4-year-old daughter of Kitten's Joy  and will have John Velazquez up.