Tiffany topples males in BC WAYI Kentucky Turf Cup

After scoring her overdue first Group 1 win in Berlin last time out, British shipper Tiffany bagged her richest prize so far – along with a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) – in Saturday’s $1.095 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G2). 

The Sir Mark Prescott trainee topped an all-European trifecta with Ethical Diamond, the reigning Breeders’ Cup winner, and Fort George. The leading American, 3-2 favorite Burnham Square, was a non-threatening seventh at Kentucky Downs. 

One race later, the Europeans were foiled by New York-bred Caroline St. Beat in the $1,832,500 Nashville Derby (G2). The Miguel Clement pupil, who just won an entry-level allowance for state-breds at Saratoga Aug. 29, reeled in pacesetting Glacius to spring the $36.54 upset. 

Kentucky Turf Cup (G2)

A homebred for Elite Racing 004, Tiffany capitalized on her tactical style as her prime rivals were all held up further off the pace. The 6.99-1 chance ($15.98) also saved more ground from her rail post than Ethical Diamond and the wide-trip Burnham Square. 

Regular rider Luke Morris had Tiffany well positioned in third, about 2 1/2 lengths behind front-running longshot Layabout, through slow fractions of :25.77, :51.02, 1:14.62, and 1:37.82 on the firm course. But it wasn’t all a saloon passage for Tiffany, who was hampered on the far turn when trying to split foes.

Morris had to snatch her up and dive back to the inside of Layabout. Tiffany didn’t miss a beat, smoothly rallying up the fence and driving clear.

Ethical Diamond was stopped in a far turn traffic jam as well, just when he was beginning to wind up. The 2.28-1 second choice had to regain momentum all over again. Although recovering to loom in second, Ethical Diamond couldn’t get near enough to pose a serious challenge.

Tiffany maintained a 1 3/4-length margin at the wire in a final time of 2:26.37. 

Ethical Diamond had 2 1/4 lengths to spare over Fort George, who closed from last with the race shape all against him. Early stalker Dresden Row held third, followed by Layabout, Eff Thirty Five, Burnham Square, defending champion Ole Crazy Bone, and Desvio. Echo Lane was a vet scratch. 

The ultra-consistent Tiffany sports a mark of 18-8-7-1, and the six-year-old mare is now a millionaire with earnings of $1,088,219. The daughter of Farhh had been mixing it up with Group 1 males in Germany for the past two seasons, enduring a frustrating series of seconds before finally getting her neck in front in the Aug. 9 Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1). 

Her resume also features victories in the 2024 Hoppings Fillies’ S. (G3) on the Tapeta at Newcastle and the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis (G2) at Baden-Baden. More details, and selected race replays, are available in her international scouting report on TwinSpires.com Edge. 

Tiffany’s success this season is especially rewarding for the Elite Racing Club, which decided to keep her in training after she RNA’d for about $1.37 million at Tattersalls last December. She’s bound for the same prestigious Sceptre Sessions later this year, and the only question is how many more catalog updates she might furnish.

Nashville Derby (G2)

Madaket Stables and Steven Bouchey’s Caroline St. Beat was overlooked at 17.27-1 in his graded stakes debut. Bettors respected Aidan O’Brien’s Causeway, the 1.41-1 favorite; British shipper Glacius, the Saratoga Derby (G1) winner who went off at 2.42-1 to repeat the feat here; and German wild card Gostam, the 4.91-1 third choice.

But aside from the European form factor, Caroline St. Beat had more questions to answer in his first start outside of New York-bred company. The son of Tiz the Law had placed second in a pair of state-bred stakes, last fall’s Notebook S. at Aqueduct and the July 24 Rick Violette S. in his belated reappearance. A better trip lifted him in last Saturday’s allowance, and he carried that momentum forward on the class and distance hike here.

Glacius sped forward as he did at the Spa, but this time, he was attended early. Gostam and Versailles Road kept him honest through splits of :24.82, :48.64, and 1:11.91. 

Caroline St. Beat, never far from the leaders, advanced into second by the time Glacius reached the mile in 1:35.38. Taking aim down the stretch as they pulled away from the rest, Caroline St. Beat wore Glacius down by 1 1/2 lengths. Under good handling by Tyler Gaffalione, he clocked 1 5/16 miles in 2:08.49.

Go Grey rallied from last to edge Joseph O’Brien’s shipper Nil Bua Gan Dua for third. Causeway, who arguably should have been handier, was another neck away in fifth. Next came Fancy Sailor, Royal Causeway, Gostam, Versailles Road, and Royal Guard, who was eased after clipping heels. Two cross-entrants were withdrawn – Blackmail and Fuzzbuster, both in Monday’s Gun Runner S. 

Caroline St. Beat joined millionaires’ row with $1,175,875 from a record of 5-3-2-0. Out of the multiple stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Myhartblongstodady, the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton New York Bred yearling was bred by Lawrence Goichman.