Kentucky Cup Turf

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An overflow field of 15, which includes three on the also-eligible list, is

set for the 1 1/2-mile trip over the Kentucky Downs turf oval in Saturday's $150,000

Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3).

We'll side with DEAL MAKING (Empire Maker) in a wide-open event. Conditioned

by Graham Motion, the talented gelding began his career with a trio of wins in

succession but has lost six straight, many against top-quality fields. We love

the stretch out in here for a four-year-old who should adore it, and if he

doesn't endure a wide trip throughout from his outside post, we like his chances with Brice Blanc.

Dual stakes hero TIMELESS FASHION (Sky Classic) has never finished worse than

third in nine career outings and rates as a strong contender in here for trainer

Tom Drury. A smart winner of the Independence Day S. at

Mountaineer last out, the gelded bay was freshened for this test, and we give him a

huge chance under James Lopez.

SOUTHWEST (Cozzene) was a strong second in the John's Call S. last out and

rates a big shot at a top-three finish with anything resembling that effort for

Rodney Jenkins. The gray colt has just two career wins but has run his best

races at a route of ground, so we think he'll have as much energy as any in this

field in the latter stages. Miguel Mena will be in the irons.

CLOUDY'S KNIGHT (Lord Avie) was sensational in 2007, winning the

highly-competitive Canadian International S. (Can-G1) and Sky Classic S.

(Can-G2) en route to a breakthrough season, but was simply awful in 2008,

failing to hit the board in four tries. Now in the hands of training genius

Jonathan Sheppard, the gelded chestnut will make his first start of 2009, but

we're not concerned as we've learned to trust his conditioner. Rosemary

Homeister Jr. has the assignment. Group 1 winner PALACE EPISODE (Machiavellian) has yet to regain the form that

he displayed as a youngster in Europe, but the six-year-old showed a glimpse of

his old self with a fine second against a stakes-caliber allowance field two

back at Churchill Downs. Trained by Andrew McKeever, the dark bay is a question mark at a

distance, but he's on the rail and in good form so he must be considered an exotics player under Larry Melancon.

Defending champ RUMOR HAS IT (Awesome Again) beat a good one in here last

year at big odds and will try to take this field all the way on the front for

conditioner David Hinsley. We like a few others more in this spot, but will

still throw the win threat in a few wagers. MY HAPPINESS (Arg) (Festin [Arg]) was third in this race last year and

impressed when a close fourth in the Arlington H. (G3) two prior for Bobby

Barnett. The eight-year-old dark bay is far from a win machine -- he hasn't won

since the summer of 2008 -- but he runs well on many occasions and should be

included in the vertical gimmicks.

Sharp conditioner Tom Proctor will saddle SILVER MOUNTAIN (Victory Gallop),

who earned a 100 BRIS Speed number when third in the John's Call S. at Saratoga

last out. He looks like an improving type who could be a big threat with any

improvement off of his latest run, and the Kentucky-bred should be in midpack prior

to putting in his late rally. ROGUE VICTORY (Victory Gallop) is the wildcard in this field as far as we're

concerned, as the talented colt has spent most of his career as a miler and will

hope to get another four panels for George Weaver. We've always liked the colt, but we're simply not sure if the distance will be to his liking.

GUADALCANAL (Graeme Hall) will add blinkers in here for Fred Seitz and was a

fine winner in his lone try over this unique turf course. With that said, the

four-year-old has never impacted a stakes field and we'll pass. Multiple stakes victor INDEPENDENT GEORGE (Cozzene) switches barns to Ernest

Oare and steps up in company in hopes of securing his first score of this

season. We don't see it. REZIF (Distant View) was fourth against a $7,500

starter allowance group most recently.

JAMALUDIN (Chester House), SUNSHINE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) and CLASSIC BRIDGES (Sky

Classic), each of whom is on the also-eligible list, would have trouble making a

mark on this cast from a wide post.