Da Big Hoss Sets Course Record in Turf Cup

Skychai Racing's Da Big Hoss got a perfect trip and made the most of it Jan. 30 at Sam Houston Race Park.



Jockey Florent Geroux got the  5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid   to the rail in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT), and stalked early leaders Pumpkin Rumble and Going Somewhere through almost all of the 1 1/2-mile trip, then burst through an opening on the rail entering the stretch and sprinted away from the field to win by 4 3/4 lengths.



Sam Houston doesn't run too many 1 1/2-mile turf races, but Da Big Hoss reached the wire in 2:28.16, breaking the track record by more than four seconds. Commander Calhoun previously held the record, dating back to 1996, when he ran the distance in 2:32.56.



Slightly favored Kaigun closed to finish second, as did Big John B, who came in third, three-quarters of a length back.



The two early leaders exchanged the lead multiple times and set fractions of :25.01, :49.53, and 1:14.96 through six furlongs before covering a mile in 1:40.20.



The winner paid $6.20, $3.40, and $2.60 across the board. Kaigun returned $3 and $2.40, and Big John B brought $3.40 to show.



It was the second graded score for the Mike Maker-trained Da Big Hoss, a one-time $50,000 claim. He also won the 1 1/2-mile Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Kentucky Downs in September and now has a 8-1-3 record from 16 starts with earnings of $703,056.