Ag Bullet Aims to Defend Ladies Turf Sprint Title

Ag Bullet  returns to 6 1/2 furlongs and will try to keep her record perfect at that distance against a loaded field in the $2 million Ladies Turf Sprint (G2T) at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30. 

The winner of the June 8 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) last time out at Saratoga Race Course, Ag Bullet will try to go 5-for-5 at the race's distance, one she hasn't raced at since winning the Turf Sprint almost a year ago by 5 1/2 lengths. Richard Baltas trains her for owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran.

The gray or roan daughter of Twirling Candy   hasn't posted consecutive wins since then either, but she's been in excellent form, with three top-four finishes in her last four starts. Luis Saez rides.

Among the field of 12 older fillies and mares are two of Ag Bullet's rivals from a year ago. 

Longshot Ocean Club , who finished third a year ago for trainer Jack Sisterson, won two starts ago when transferred into the care of trainer Tom Proctor, taking the Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine. But next time out, she struggled and finished seventh in the Balston Spa (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. After seven races of a mile or more, the daughter of Curlin   is cutting back in distance. 

Danse Macabre  has done well at 6 1/2 furlongs with a win and a second in three tries. After a distant eighth at Kentucky Downs last year, she moved into the barn of Christophe Clement and later under the care of his son, Miguel, following the elder Clement's death. She had a troubled trip in the June 5 Intercontinental Stakes (G2T), falling toward the back of the field and needing to go seven wide to improve her standing. Miguel Clement gave her a chance to move forward in a July 19 allowance optional claimer at Woodbine, and she rallied for a head win.

Steve Asmussen trainee Zeitlos  will be looking to snap her streak of three graded stakes without a win. She came close last time out, a half-length short in the Caress Stakes (G3T) in her return to turf after a five-race stretch on the dirt. Before that, she was third in the Chicago Stakes (G2) and seventh in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Simply in Front  enters Saturday's race as a winner in two of her last three starts, including the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf last time out. That win would have allowed her to run in the $2 million Ladies Turf (G3T), but trainer Eddie Kenneally thinks the shorter distance is better for his pupil.

"She won at 6 1/2 there last year," Kenneally said. "It's a unique course. It worked out perfectly for her. With the hill and the configuration of the track, I think the mile there is probably more like a mile and a sixteenth. When we tried her there last year at 6 1/2, I think it hit her just perfectly."



Simply in Front had to rally down the stretch last time out, trailing by seven lengths with a half mile to go and nearly four lengths at the stretch. 

Meanwhile, trainer Jorge Abreu is trying to find the sweet spot for longtime dirt competitor Jody's Pride . She has one turf start in 11 races, finishing fourth in the 2024 Pebbles Stakes (G3T). 

With turf form is the speedy graded stakes winner Kehoe Beach , a blowout winner in one prior try over the Kentucky Downs oval. In three losses this year, she has been competitive in two grade 1s and in a grade 2 against males.