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Kentucky Downs kicks off with three lucrative stakes

Medal Count, a veteran of the Triple Crown trail, invades Kentucky Downs for the inaugural Dueling Grounds Derby (Keeneland/Coady Photography) Turf racing returns to Kentucky Downs on Saturday with a 10-race program featuring three stakes, including the inaugural running of the $250,000 Dueling Grounds Derby. The 1 5/16-mile affair has attracted a nice field of 10 sophomores that includes classic-placed Medal Count and Grade 2 winner Global View. The $200,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile and $200,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Filles, both at seven furlongs, will also be offered on the opening-day program. Kentucky Downs is exclusively turf, conducted on North America's only European-style course, and the 2014 meet consists of five days of racing on September 6,10,13,17 and 24. The daily average purse structure is more than $1 million and the Franklin, Kentucky, track has made a number of upgrades to the grounds, including the installation of a world class turf rail; improved drainage system; and the addition of 16 surveillance cameras in the stable area.

The Grade 3, $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 13 is the signature event of the track's 23rd meeting. All races and stakes have received purse increases this year.

"More than $1 million in daily purse structure will make 2014 a breakout year for Kentucky Downs," Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen said. "I believe that record purse money combined with a world class turf course will attract many of North America's horses, jockeys and trainers. We have also slightly modified our stakes schedule to mirror many of the distances in this year's Breeders' Cup."

Click here for the complete stakes schedule and a listing of events.

Medal Count will be looking to rebound from a disappointing effort in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational where he finished last of nine. A close third in the Belmont Stakes two starts back, the Dale Romans-trained colt should appreciate the switch back to turf.

After opening 2014 with a dead-heat allowance/optional claiming victory on Gulfstream's turf, Medal Count discovered his best form on the old Polytrack at Keeneland that tended to play favorably toward turf horses, winning the Grade 3 Transylvania before a rallying second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass. By Dynaformer, Medal Count is bred to relish the 10 1/2-furlong distance and obviously possesses the class to be a serious factor Saturday. Regular rider Robby Albarado will be up.

Global View captured the Grade 2 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard and exits a fourth in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington. The Galileo colt also captured last year's Grade 3 Generous on turf. Drayden Van Dyke picks up the mount for conditioner Tom Proctor.

A pair of last-out Saratoga allowance winners, Can'thelpbelieving and My Afleet, both merit respect for trainers Graham Motion and James Lawrence, respectively. Proud Azteca, an Indiana-bred son of Kitten's Joy, will bring improving form into the race for Mike Maker following a restricted stakes win at Indiana Downs.

Rounding out the field are Grade 2 runner-up Laddie Boy; Grade 3-placed runners Rankhasprivileges and Woodfield Springs; and a pair of stakes runner-ups, Captain Dixie and Pumpkin Rumble.

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