Arklow to Seek Third Straight Win in Sycamore

After beating defending titleholder Oscar Nominated in the Sept. 8 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T), Arklow will attempt to take home his third straight win when he headlines the field for the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3T) Oct. 18 at Keeneland. 

It's not all been easy going for Arklow, but the struggle is finally starting to pay off. 

After failing to break his maiden in three starts as a 2-year-old, Arklow got the job done at 3 in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight at Keeneland in April 2017. The Brad Cox trainee and son of Arch stepped up next out in the American Turf Stakes Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) at Churchill Downs, where, guided by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, the colt made an impressive five-wide bid inside the quarter pole to get up and win by a length. 

But the American Turf was the final victory of the colt's sophomore season as he finished off the board in both the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park and the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course. Arklow opened his 4-year-old campaign with a score in an optional-claiming allowance race Feb. 24 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and has won three of six starts for owners Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway—earning $607,395 in 2018.

The Sycamore will be the first trip to the Lexington oval for Arklow since winning his maiden. He will break from post 5 in the Sycamore under Florent Geroux. 

Joining Arklow in the Sycamore is Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Oscar Nominated, who finished a lackluster fifth last out in the Kentucky Turf Cup. Trained by Mike Maker, the 5-year-old Kitten's Joy  ridgling has started only once at Keeneland this year when he finished second to One Go All Go in the April 21 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T). 

Oscar Nominated's grade 1-winning stablemate Bigger Picture will also contest the Sycamore. The millionaire last posted a win Jan. 28 when he took the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Race Park but hasn't fared as well in six subsequent starts. Bigger Picture finished second last out behind Arklow in the Kentucky Turf Cup, a half-length behind the leader. 

Bringing the least experience to the field is the Steve Asmussen-trained Campaign. The 3-year-old son of Curlin  broke his maiden Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs and followed that effort with another win in an allowance race seven days later at the same track. 

The oldest runner in Thursday's field is Cooptado. The 8-year-old gelding has amassed just over $1 million in earnings in his 42 starts but has been unsuccessful in two attempts to win a graded stakes. Cooptado finished seventh in both the May 19 Louisville Handicap (G3T) at Churchill Downs and the June 8 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Belmont. 

Entries: Sycamore S. (G3T)

Keeneland, Thursday, October 18, 2018, Race 8

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:57 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Some in Tieme (BRZ)	Manoel R. Cruz	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	30/1
2	2Cooptado (ARG)	J. D. Acosta	121	Thomas Morley	20/1
3	3Campaign (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
4	4Oscar Nominated (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	Michael J. Maker	3/1
5	5Arklow (KY)	Florent Geroux	123	Brad H. Cox	5/2
6	6Bigger Picture (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Michael J. Maker	3/1
7	7Slickly Done (IN)	Richard A. Bracho	121	Jay J. Holden	50/1
8	8Final Copy (ON)	John R. Velazquez	121	Roger L. Attfield	20/1
9	9Zulu Alpha (KY)	Channing Hill	121	John Alexander Ortiz	10/1
10	10Nessy (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	123	Ian R. Wilkes	15/1
11	11Can'thelpbelieving (IRE)	Joe Bravo	121	H. Graham Motion	10/1
12	12Teodoro (IRE)	Adam Beschizza	123	Thomas Morley	15/1
13	13Harlan Strong (ARG)	Robby Albarado	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	30/1