The Breeders’ Cup hits Kentucky Downs

At Kentucky Downs, outside Franklin in Kentucky, it was Howard Welowitz and Irad Ortiz Jr who took out the Franklin-Simpson Stakes, the tracks first Grade 1 event.

In gaining the lead in the home straight, it was Irad Oritz who rallied Howard Welowitz when headed by Yellow Card, and in gaining the lead again at the 100yds, went on to win by a length.

With no race time recorded for the 6½ furlongs on thick turf for 3yo’s, he survived a protest by second placed Yellow Card jockey John Velaquez for interference by the winner in the ‘long’ straight.

With owners Gold Square receiving $1.17m in stakes, including $1m from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, it was the first Grade 1 success for young trainer Jose D’Angelo.

In fact with the Franklin-Simpson Stakes not being a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series ‘Win & You’re In’ event, its Kentucky Downs who will finance entry into Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

Being Howard Welowitz’s second race win in just four starts this year, having been unraced at two, he was a $240,000 yearling at the 2022 Keeneland January Sale, and is sired by Munnings.

“Delighted as getting a Grade 1 Stakes, it’s about the ascent of our racing program, with the Franklin-Simpson an exciting result,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs Vice President for Racing.

“The Franklin-Simpson and Music City are among 11 Kentucky Downs stakes with a purse of at least $1 million in 2023, including money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.”

“Even without the supplemental money for registered Kentucky-breds, the Franklin-Simpson Stakes and Music City’s $600,000 base purses are the most lucrative in America for their division.”

And with Howard Welowitz’s half-brother by Instagrand selling at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, it’s the Turf Sprint winner Cogburn’s half-brother by Not This Time who sells on Day 1.

In scoring a 3 ¼ length victory over British visitor Khaadam, ridden by Jamie Spencer for Charlie Hills, in the Turf Sprint Stakes of 6 furlongs run in 1m-7.68, it was Jose Ortiz on Axthelm In third.

In winning all three starts this year as a 5yo, Cogburn is coming off a Grade 1 victory in the Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga and earlier the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Now the winner of 9 of his 15 starts and $2.4m, he was first traded as a $52,000 Keeneland November weanling, then a $310,00 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling and then a $150,000 Ocala 2YO.

With Cogburn gaining a ‘Win & You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on 2 November, it’s the Turf Cup Stakes winner Grand Sonata who’s ‘Win & You’re In’ for the BC Turf.

In scoring his first win in over a year, the Todd Pletcher trained and Tayler Gaffalione ridden Grand Sonata scored a half-length victory in the Turf Cup Stakes of 1½ miles, winning in 2-24.9

In defeating Highway Robber, Jareth Loveberry, and a length to Tawney Port in third, he will be meeting the might of Europe at Del Mar, headed by the Epsom Derby winner City of Troy.

A $125,000 buy at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he’s by the highly respected Medagia d’Oro, from the family of Indiana Derby winner Wilburn, Beethoven, La Appassionata.

“With our first Grade 1 and with four Grade 2 races in our nine graded stakes, we’ve become entrenched in the national conversation,” said Ron Winchell, part owner of Kentucky Downs.

“Our goal now is to make Kentucky Downs an international destination, in working hard to continue the upward as we want the Franklin-Simpson to be our first – but not only – Grade 1.”