Lord Bullingdon Seeks to Regain Form in KY Cup Classic

Lord Bullingdon  will seek to improve his closing game as he takes on the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3) March 22 on Turfway Park's all-weather track. 

The Michael McCarthy trainee heads east after two top-four finishes at Santa Anita Park. This will be just his third start out of 13 away from California. Lord Bullingdon has improved his finishing position in each of his last three races since coming in 13th in the American Turf Stakes (G2T) last year.

He capped 2024 with a fourth in the Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) and then opened his 4-year-old campaign with a third in the San Marcos Stakes (G3T). Lord Nelson's gray or roan son has been working in Southern California in the lead-up to Saturday's 1 1/8-mile contest. If he crosses the wire first Saturday, it will be his first win since the 2023 Eddie Logan Stakes. 

Another contender who wants to get back in the winners' circle is Godolphin homebred Encino . His four-race winning streak was snapped last time out in the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2). In that mile-long dirt race, the grade 3 winner led for the opening half-mile before fading to seventh. 

Cairo Prince   gelding Paros , who has finished fifth and sixth his last two times out—in the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3T) and Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T)—will look to regain the form that saw him close out 2024 with five straight victories.

An also-eligible to watch out for is Todd Pletcher trainee Tucson , who would be looking to keep his momentum going. After training at Palm Beach Downs and running his first three races at Gulfstream Park, the Constitution   colt would be trying to string together his third consecutive victory. Bred by CHC and owned by WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing, Tucson hit triple-digit Equibase Speed Figures in his two triumphs, both on Gulfstream's all-weather track. In both wins, the chestnut 4-year-old found another gear late to pass the leaders down the stretch.

Also at Turfway Park...

• Turfway Prevue Stakes victor Coming in Hot  reunites with Killjoy , fourth in that Jan. 4 contest, in the six-furlong $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes. They aren't the only ones with good form on the all-weather track as Big Vince , perfect in two starts at Turfway, looks to stay unbeaten as a 3-year-old. Also challenging from the field of eight colts and geldings is Kale's Angel . He won the Renaissance Stakes last time out, and before that, finished third in the Smarty Jones Stakes. 
• The big mystery in the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes is what does trainer Graham Motion have in import End of Romance . Making his first start in the United States after three strong efforts in lower-level tests in the United Kingdom, the chestnut gelding now has to tackle 1 1/16 miles after winning at six and seven furlongs overseas.
•  A big field of 12 fillies and mares will battle it out in the $250,000 Latonia Stakes. Among them are 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) competitor Austere  and 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Cotillion Stakes (G1) runner Everland .