Weekend Stakes Rundown: Spotlight on Kentucky Downs

Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week Kentucky Downs features six lucrative stakes races to take hold of the spotlight. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews can be found through the link for each race.

Saturday, Sept. 9

5:13 p.m.—$100,000 Seattle Slew Stakes at Belmont Park

Far From Over, the 2015 Withers Stakes (G3) winner, will look to earn his first stakes score since that effort early in the Triple Crown prep season in 2015. In two starts this year, the 5-year-old Blame  ridgling has finished seventh in the Salvator Mile (G3) and a far-back second last time out in an optional-claiming allowance July 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

Entries: Seattle Slew S.

Belmont Park, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:13 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Backsideofthemoon (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Leo O'Brien	10/1
2	2Doyouknowsomething (KY)	Eric Cancel	116	A. C. Avila	8/1
3	3Conquest Windycity (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Brendan P. Walsh	2/1
4	4Securitiz (KY)	Manuel Franco	116	James A. Jerkens	5/1
5	5Royal Posse (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Rudy R. Rodriguez	15/1
6	6Far From Over (KY)	Javier Castellano	116	Todd A. Pletcher	7/5

5:18 p.m.—$350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs

If Miss Temple City is anything close to her old self, the first move toward righting the ship could come when she will become the most accomplished horse to ever grace the unique venue at Kentucky Downs. The earner of more than $1.4 million towers in back class over the seven rivals she is set to face.

Entries: Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (G3T)

Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 7

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $350,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:18 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Beauly (GB)	James Graham	125	Brendan P. Walsh	6/1
2	2Linda (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Ian R. Wilkes	5/1
3	3Hone In (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	121	Victoria H. Oliver	30/1
4	4Zipessa (KY)	Joe Bravo	121	Michael Stidham	7/2
5	5Miss Temple City (KY)	Edgar S. Prado	121	H. Graham Motion	1/1
6	6Majestic Angel (KY)	Florent Geroux	121	Eric R. Reed	30/1
7	7Susie Bee (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	125	Michael J. Maker	8/1
8	8Seeking Paradise (KY)	Chris Landeros	121	Joe Sharp	30/1

5:35 p.m.—$75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington International Racecourse

The 10-horse field is headed by Yeaman's Racing Stables' 13-length debut winner Soul of Discretion. The colt by Discreetly Mine drew off impressively to win at Canterbury Park Aug. 25 going five furlongs on an off track.

Entries: Arlington-Washington Futurity

Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 7

• STK
• 7f
• All Weather Track
• $75,000
• 2 yo
• 4:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Our Thomas (IL)	Anthony Y. Nunez	118	Michael L. Reavis	30/1
2	2Kate's Golden Dude (KY)	Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.	118	Thomas M. Amoss	6/1
3	3P R Radio Star (KY)	Pedro L. Cotto, Jr.	118	Thomas H. Swearingen	20/1
4	4Captivating Moon (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	118	Chris M. Block	5/1
5	5Soul of Discretion (KY)	Leslie Mawing	118	Dan L. McFarlane	3/1
6	6East Rand (KY)	Julio E. Felix	118	Kellyn Gorder	10/1
7	7Barry Lee (KY)	Horacio Karamanos	118	Horacio DePaz	5/2
8	8Take Charge Dude (FL)	Santo Sanjur	118	Michael B. Campbell	15/1
9	9Ghaaleb's Winner (IL)	Christopher A. Emigh	118	Scott Becker	20/1
10	10The X (FL)	Mitchell Murrill	118	Ben Colebrook	6/1

5:45 p.m.—$350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Jackpot Ranch and Mike Rutherford's Mississippi Delta earned $205,680 with a win in last year's Ladies Sprint as the 3-2 favorite. The 5-year-old Giant's Causeway  mare has won twice in 2017, including a score in Belmont Park's Intercontinental Stakes (G3T) at seven furlongs.

Entries: Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S.

Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• 6 1/2f
• Turf
• $350,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mississippi Delta (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	125	Mark E. Casse	3/1
2	2Fair Point (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Claude R. McGaughey III	7/2
3	3Corby (KY)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	121	Brendan P. Walsh	20/1
4	4Miss Gossip (IRE)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Andrew McKeever	15/1
5	5Lull (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Christophe Clement	5/1
6	6Morticia (KY)	Jose Lezcano	122	George R. Arnold, II	9/2
7	7Sea Cloud (KY)	Robby Albarado	121	Brendan P. Walsh	30/1
8	8Scatter Gun (KY)	Florent Geroux	121	Neil L. Pessin	15/1
9	9Marquee Miss (KY)	James Graham	121	Ingrid Mason	10/1
10	10Happy Mesa (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Michael J. Maker	15/1
11	11Marquee Cal Gal (KY)	Jack Gilligan	121	Philip A. Sims	10/1

5:58 p.m.—$75,000 E.B Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course

Defending race winner Soi Phet, a 9-year-old Tizbud  gelding, will look to win his fourth stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course, but John Parker's homebred Gold Rush Dancer enters with momentum off a breakthrough score in the Aug. 13 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3) at Emerald Downs.

6:05 p.m.—$75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse

Sagamore Farm's homebred Southampton Way ships in from the East. The daughter of Into Mischief   broke her maiden at Saratoga earlier in the summer before she returned Aug. 12 with a second-place finish in the Adirondack Stakes (G2).

Entries: Arlington-Washington Lassie S.

Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• 7f
• All Weather Track
• $75,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 5:05 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Presage (KY)	Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.	117	Eoin G. Harty	15/1
2	2Ardor (FL)	Pedro L. Cotto, Jr.	117	Eoin G. Harty	10/1
3	3Lemon Drop Twist (KY)	Anthony Y. Nunez	117	Liane P. Davis	30/1
4	4Richie'slilwildcat (IL)	Santo Sanjur	117	Larry Rivelli	5/1
5	5Espressa (KY)	Nicholas Meza	117	Chris A. Ryan	15/1
6	6Southampton Way (MD)	Horacio Karamanos	117	Horacio DePaz	5/2
7	7Fabriana (KY)	Mitchell Murrill	117	Larry Rivelli	20/1
8	8Caramel Cream (KY)	Edgar Perez	117	Brian Williamson	20/1
9	9Saucy At Midnight (KY)	Julio E. Felix	117	Ingrid Mason	8/1
10	10Red Dread (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	117	William R. Connelly	6/1
11	11Romantic Attack (IL)	Jesse A. Lantz	117	James R. Childers	30/1
12	12Her Wild Lifestyle (FL)	Christopher A. Emigh	117	Larry Rivelli	10/1
13	13Bet She Wins (KY)	Jose E. Lopez	117	Chris M. Block	15/1
14	14Cowgirl Callie (IL)	Olaf Hernandez	117	Leroy Hellman	15/1

6:05 p.m.—$200,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs

Mr. Misunderstood won the Aug. 5 Super Derby Prelude Stakes to earn a berth into the Super Derby, and is undefeated in each of his four turf starts. Trainer Mike Maker will ship Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Gorgeous Kitten. The Kitten's Joy  colt will make his seventh turf start and enters the race off three recent graded stakes appearances at Arlington International Racecourse. He finished second in both the Arlington Classic Stakes (G3T) and American Derby (G3T) before he stepped up to the Secretariat Stakes (G1T) Aug. 12.

6:14 p.m.—$400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs

The big names in the Turf Sprint include Wes Welker and Elizabeth Kumin's group 1 winner Undrafted, the 7-year-old gelding trained by Wesley Ward. A seven-time winner from 31 starts, Undrafted advanced from mid-pack along the rail to finish a close-up fourth in the Turf Sprint last year and has kept top company since.

Entries: Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint S. (G3T)

Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 6 1/2f
• Turf
• $400,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:14 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Commend (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	William I. Mott	4/1
2	2Indy Hill (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	118	D. Wayne Lukas	30/1
3	3Black Bear (KY)	Robby Albarado	121	Randy L. Morse	15/1
4	4Tell All You Know (KY)	Katie Clawson	121	Kellyn Gorder	15/1
5	5Bondurant (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Ian R. Wilkes	7/2
6	6Wyeth (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	Thomas M. Amoss	8/1
7	7Undrafted (KY)	Julio A. Garcia	121	Wesley A. Ward	9/2
8	8Crewman (KY)	Chris Landeros	121	Dee Poulos	20/1
9	9Mikes the Man (KY)	Rogelio Miranda	121	Ronald Moss	50/1
10	10Hogy (KY)	Florent Geroux	125	Michael J. Maker	5/2
11	11Dimension (GB)	James Graham	121	Conor Murphy	30/1

6:42 p.m.—$600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Down

Postulation will try for a third straight stakes win when he starts from the rail in the Turf Cup. Runnymede Racing's gelded son of Harlan's Holiday finished off the board in his first two starts this year but found his best stride when stretched out to 1 1/2 miles for just the second time in his career—when he scored a six-length victory in the Cape Henlopen Stakes July 8 at Delaware Park. Off that front-running score, trainer Edward Graham entered Postulation in the 1 11/16-mile American St. Leger Stakes (G3T) Aug. 12 at Arlington. Distance again proved to be no problem, as the 5-year-old runner cruised to a 2 1/4-length victory.

Entries: Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $600,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Postulation (KY)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	123	Edward L. Graham	9/2
2	2Lucky Ramsey (KY)	Channing Hill	121	Randy L. Morse	30/1
3	3Muqtaser (KY)	Joe Bravo	123	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	6/1
4	4Oscar Nominated (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	121	Michael J. Maker	7/2
5	5Crescent Drive (KY)	Miguel Mena	121	Thomas M. Amoss	20/1
6	6Zulu Alpha (KY)	Robby Albarado	121	Jose Fernandez	30/1
7	7Enterprising (FL)	Corey J. Lanerie	123	Michael J. Maker	3/1
8	8Bullards Alley (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	121	Tim Glyshaw	12/1
9	9One Go All Go (VA)	Declan Cannon	121	Pavel Matejka	20/1
10	10St. Louie (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Michael J. Maker	30/1
11	11Taghleeb (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	Michael J. Maker	5/1
12	12Nessy (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Ian R. Wilkes	20/1
13	13Motivational (KY)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	121	Jack O. Fisher	30/1
14	14Tobias (KY)	James Graham	121	Rafael A. Fernandez	30/1

8:28 p.m.—Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course

Faypien exits a second-place run in the Aug. 5 Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and will likely use the six-furlong Lewis as a prep for a run in the Breeders' Cup. Prior to her trip to New York, the Florida-bred filly won the two-turn Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park by a head over Mopotism.

Entries: Beverly J. Lewis S.

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, Saturday, September 09, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $75,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Queen Laila (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Simon Callaghan	9/2
2	2Delitefull Lady (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	118	Richard Baltas	8/1
3	3Faypien (FL)	Rafael Bejarano	122	Bob Baffert	4/5
4	4Freedom Journey (CA)	Brayan Pena	120	Hector O. Palma	20/1
5	5Princess Karen (KY)	Kent J. Desormeaux	120	Jeff Bonde	8/1
6	6Chalon (KY)	Martin Garcia	122	Peter Miller	4/1
7	7Auntjenn (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Peter Miller	15/1

Sunday, Sept. 10

5:54 p.m.—$200,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs

Normandy Farm's Daddys Lil Darling will get some class relief after running in four straight grade 1 races. The Scat Daddy filly started the quartet well, with back-to-back runner-up efforts in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), but has missed the board in her last two tries—the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

Entries: Dueling Grounds Oaks

Kentucky Downs, Sunday, September 10, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• One And Five Sixteenthm
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 4:54 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Daddys Lil Darling (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Kenneth G. McPeek	3/1
2	2Lift Up (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Michael W. Dickinson	10/1
3	3Summer Luck (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Mark E. Casse	4/1
4	4La Manta Gris (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	George R. Arnold, II	6/1
5	5Thrice (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Michael J. Maker	12/1
6	6Holiday's Angel (KY)	Alex L. Canchari	118	Chris A. Hartman	15/1
7	7Quebec (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	118	J. Kent Sweezey	5/1
8	8Gentle Kitten (KY)	Robby Albarado	118	Michael J. Maker	8/1
9	9Point System (KY)	Edgar S. Prado	118	H. Graham Motion	10/1
10	10Lantiz (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Michelle Nihei	12/1

6:27 p.m.—$350,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs

The lone last-out stakes winner in a wide-open field of 11 is Lothenbach Stables' Giant Payday, who took the Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park Aug. 26. In the one-mile turf test, the Giant's Causeway colt closed from last in the 10-horse field—as many as 16 3/4 lengths behind the early leaders—to win by a length.

Entries: Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby

Kentucky Downs, Sunday, September 10, 2017, Race 9

• STK
• One And Five Sixteenthm
• Turf
• $350,000
• 3 yo
• 5:27 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Giant Payday (KY)	Chris Landeros	124	Ian R. Wilkes	6/1
2	2Bronson (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	124	Michael J. Maker	6/1
3	3Big Bend (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	118	Thomas F. Proctor	12/1
4	4Society Beau (KY)	James Graham	118	Neil J. Howard	10/1
5	5Parlor (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	120	Eddie Kenneally	3/1
6	6Watch Me Whip (KY)	Robby Albarado	118	Dale L. Romans	10/1
7	7Holiday Bonus (KY)	Edgar S. Prado	118	H. Graham Motion	12/1
8	8Gorgeous Kitten (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Michael J. Maker	9/2
9	9Muggsamatic (FL)	Luca Panici	124	Kathleen O'Connell	12/1
10	10Hollow Point (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Mark E. Casse	8/1
11	11Capture the Glory (KY)	Dick Cardenas	118	William E. Gallagher	30/1