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Baryshnikov rates slight favorite in Kentucky Cup

Resurrected by the sponsorship of Win-Star Farm, the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions returns from hiatus on Saturday at Turfway Park. Although not boasting the star power that was once on display in the program's heyday, the five races could still yield a sprinkling of Breeders' Cup contenders.

The day's marquee event, the $200,000 Kentucky Cup (G2), has been shortened to 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack. Formerly a 1 1/8-mile prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), its honor roll includes Tabasco Cat, Thunder Gulch, Silver Charm, Roses in May and Hard Spun. The last winner, Furthest Land (2009), went on to upset the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in his next start.

Workin for Hops could be part of a successful day for Mike Stidham (Four Footed Fotos) The Kentucky Cup features two-time Grade 1 hero GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) and Grade 2 winner WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip), but neither of them rates as the morning-line favorite. That distinction goes to the Mike Maker-trained BARYSHNIKOV (Empire Maker), who has been tabbed as the slight choice at 3-1 to earn his first graded victory. Like Furthest Land, Baryshnikov is a well-bred reformed claimer who has blossomed under Maker's tutelage. He has the added advantage of being a true horse-for-the-course at Turfway, where he has compiled a 13-5-1-3 mark. Since his front-running success in the Tejano Run S. here on March 19, Baryshnikov has placed in four straight graded stakes on turf. Runner-up to Paddy O'Prado in the May 21 Dixie S. (G2), he chased Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) in the July 4 Firecracker H. (G2) and rallied for third in both the July 31 Oceanport S. (G3) and the August 26 Bernard Baruch H. (G2). The Bernard Baruch form looks particularly strong. The winner, Turallure (Wando), came back to capture last Sunday's Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), and the runner-up is dual Grade 1 star Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic). Corey Lanerie, who guided Baryshnikov at Saratoga, will be back aboard as he breaks from post 5.

General Quarters proved his proficiency on synthetic with a convincing score in the 2009 Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland, and added the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) to his trophy case the following year. His 2011 campaign has been disappointing so far, with well-beaten sevenths in the Firecracker and the September 3 Washington Park H. (G3), but owner/trainer Tom McCarthy might have solved the puzzle. He discovered that General Quarters was unhappy racing in a tongue tie, and he could be a different horse without it. The 6-1 shot, drawn on the outside in post 8, warrants plenty of respect with regular rider Jamie Theriot.

Workin for Hops, another turf/synthetic specialist, figures to exploit his early speed from the rail. The winner of the first two legs of the grassy Mid-America Triple last summer, the Michael Stidham pupil has run his two best races this year on Polytrack. Workin for Hops rolled to a three-length decision in the May 21 Hanshin Cup S. (G3) over a mile at Arlington Park, but just failed to wire the nine-furlong Washington Park in his latest. He was subsequently demoted to third for drifting out in deep stretch, but is eligible to rebound at this shorter distance. Joe Talamo picks up the mount on the 7-2 second choice.

California shipper SHEDIAK (Fr) (Selkirk) won his last two at Del Mar, capped by a strong score in the September 3 Windy Sands H. for Ben Cecil. HAVELOCK (Great Notion), third to Workin for Hops in the Hanshin, has prospered on turf of late. Coming off wins in the July 16 Arlington Sprint S. and the August 28 Play the King S. (Can-G2), the Darrin Miller trainee stretches back out while reverting to Polytrack.

Multiple Grade 3 veteran DEMARCATION (Gulch) hasn't visited the winner's circle since the February 19 Mineshaft H. (G3), but his close second in the August 6 West Virginia Governor's S., and a recent bullet work, signal that the seven-year-old is rounding into form. Firecracker third STRIKE IMPACT (Smart Strike) also exits a near-miss in a Mountaineer stakes and a bullet work, while FUTURE PROSPECT (Freud) brings a three-race winning streak into his class hike.

One race before Stidham and Talamo team up with Workin for Hops, they will combine with UPPERLINE (Maria's Mon) in the companion $100,000 Kentucky Cup Distaff (G3). A creditable fifth versus much tougher in the August 13 Beverly D. S. (G1) on the grass, Upperline should enjoy the surface switch, and softer spot, on Saturday. Two of her biggest scores have come on Polytrack, in last year's Arlington Oaks (G3) and in the June 25 Trillium S. at Woodbine two starts back, and she looms as the filly to beat in the 1 1/16-mile test.

Todd Pletcher will send out AILALEA (Pulpit) in her synthetic debut. The well-bred filly won two Grade 3 events on dirt earlier in her career -- the 2009 Tempted S. (G3) and 2010 Dogwood S. (G3) -- but hasn't regained the winning thread at four. Ailalea is moving in the right direction, having chased the Gallant Bloom (G2)-bound Buckleupbuttercup (Najran) at Saratoga, and she could improve on Polytrack. Regular rider Edgar Prado sticks with the bay, who will break widest of all from post 7.

Multiple stakes queen KISS MINE (Mineshaft) has never lost in her three career races at Turfway. In her last appearance here in December, the David Vance mare prevailed in the My Charmer S. at this trip. Kiss Mine has since spent her time on the turf, taking a pair of minor stakes at Mountaineer, before finishing third in the off-the-turf Summer Finale S. Although she has come up short in graded company on grass, the Distaff marks her first attempt at this level on synthetic.

Also notable are fellow Turfway aficionado LA GRAN BAILADORA (Afleet Alex) from the Maker barn, BELLA MEDAGLIA (Medaglia d'Oro) and the Dale Romans-trained PERSUADING (Broken Vow).

The top three finishers will earn seasons to one of three WinStar stallions -- Super Saver, Colonel John and Hold Me Back -- in addition to purse money.

Cal Nation carries WinStar's hopes in the Sprint (Adam Coglianese Photography) WinStar hopes to celebrate a winner of its own with CAL NATION (Distorted Humor) in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) for three-year-olds at six furlongs. A half-brother to Bluegrass Cat, and a close relative of 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, Cal Nation has yet to fulfill his promise. He dominated at first asking in February, and crushed a second-level allowance in May, but is 0-for-3 in stakes company. Third in the July 9 Carry Back S. (G2) and runner-up in the August 6 Select S. in his past two, he aims to score a breakthrough with new rider Jesus Castanon. FREE ENTRY (Tale of the Cat) was a terrific second off a freshening in the September 2 Distorted Humor S. at Saratoga, just edged by Wine Police (Speightstown). Kent Desormeaux will reunite with the chestnut, who has drawn the rail in the 11-horse field. Distorted Humor fourth PHILIPPE (Mineshaft), on the other hand, is in post 11. He ran well in both prior starts at Turfway last winter, breaking his maiden and missing narrowly in the March 26 Hansel S. Philippe forms part of a one-two punch for trainer James Baker, who also has WILL'S WILDCAT (Eurosilver), the mount of Calvin Borel.

Maker is likewise double-handed, with LOU BRISSIE (Limehouse) and MATTHEWSBURG (Ghostzapper). Lou Brissie is on a recovery mission. Last year's Kentucky Juvenile S. (G3) hero descended into the claiming ranks at Churchill Downs on July 4, and Maker promptly haltered him for $75,000. In his first start for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, he wound up a distant third in a seven-furlong optional claimer at the Spa, but could regroup in his second start off the claim. Matthewsburg, an impressive maiden winner at this track and distance, comes off a runner-up effort in the East Hanover S. at Penn National.

While the Kentucky Cup, Distaff and Sprint have not been renewed since 2009, the two juvenile races have been in mothballs since 2008. They are back on the schedule at their previous distances, and each is worth $100,000.

Maker's HANSEN (Tapit) is a top threat in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. A wire-to-wire, 12 1/4-length debut romper here on September 9, the gray should have no difficulty stepping up to two turns. Among his seven rivals are HOLLYWOOD SCRIPT (Gone West), a half-brother to Futurity S. (G1) winner Bevo (Prospectors Gamble), who broke his maiden going a mile at Arlington for Pat Byrne; Sapling S. (G3) fourth SPACE TRAVELER (Malibu Moon) from the Pletcher brigade; twice stakes-placed PRYCE'S POSSE (Posse); and recent maiden winners FINE (Flatter) and FUTURE (Mr. Greeley).

Debutante S. (G3) heroine FLASHY LASSIE (Flashy Bull) headlines a full field of 12 in the one-mile Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. The Garry Simms trainee was a late-running second after a slow start in the August 6 Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S., and is entitled to relish the added ground. Maiden winners RAINBOW BLOSSOM (Exchange Rate), BEST OF TIMES (Mineshaft) and RUSTICANA (Pioneering) all appear promising, while the Tom Amoss-trained CHARMING VIXEN (Bernstein) hasn't missed by much in her three tries and wouldn't be a surprise to break her maiden on the stretch-out.

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