Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes comes our way from Kentucky Downs this Saturday, September 15. Horses three years old and upward will race 1 1/2 miles on Kentucky Downs's turf track in search of a share of the $200,000 purse.

The Kentucky Turf Cup has attracted a strong field of eight for race 9 on the Kentucky Downs Saturday card. Post time is 5:35 PM. Here is a look at the eight entries and what brought them to this Grade 3 race.

2012 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Race Favorites

Rahystrada - is the defending champion in this race and has placed in all four starts in 2012 - three third place finishes including last time out Grade 1 Arlington Millions, a win in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July 14 and a respectable third behind Turbo Compressor and Air Support in the Colonial Turf Cup. Rahystrada is a multiple stakes winner and figures to be the favorite in the Kentucky Turf Cup.

Ioya Bigtime - started 2012 off slowly but has been coming on as of late. Last time out was a second in the American St. Leger Stakes to follow a win in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington Park on July 14. Based on recent results, Ioya Bigtime could provide a serious challenge for Rahystrada on Saturday.

Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Lake Drop - had a good career in Italy before shipping to North America before the last start - a fourth behind Ioya Bigtime in the American St. Leger Stakes. Lake Drop's last four results in Europe resulted in three seconds and a first place finish two starts ago.

Tahoe Lake - Brazilian bred Tahoe Lake has been hot and cold in 2012 for trainer Kelly McPeek. He had a surprising second in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October and followed that result up with a second and third respectively in a pair of Allowance races. He went on to finish a very pleasant second to Point of Entry in the Grade 2 Elkhorn but since has a third in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap and a disappointing seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont on June 29. Tahoe Lake placed second in the minor John's Call Sakes on August 3, a decent third in the Grade 3 Man o'War Stakes on July 14 and was a distant fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on August 18.

Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes betting at Kentucky Downs with OffTrackBetting.com

Rezif - won this races back in 2010 in upset fashion but has failed to record a victory since - a third in an Allowance in April 2011 being the best result since that race. Rezif has two starts this year - a fourth last time out in a Allowance at Ellis Park on August 17 and a fifth prior to that in a Claiming a Mountaineer on July 17.

Cozy Kitten - won the minor Franklin-Simpson Mile Stakes here last year but has struggled since. Cozy Kitten's last three starts have resulted in a seventh in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last November, a fourth in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort in December and a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in his only start this year.

Kindergarden Kid - had a fifth and a sixth in a pair of graded stakes races to start 2012 but has concentrated on Allowance Optional Claiming in four starts since with a sixth, two seconds and a third place finish in those races for trainer Barclay Tagg

Canaveral - Brazilian bred gelding had success in Brazil but has not been the same on North American soil. Canaveral finished second in the Gleaming stakes in his US debut last August and went on to a tenth in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes in September at Saratoga. In Canaveral's only start this year he was sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Saratoga on August 26.

2012 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Kentucky Downs's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:35 PM.