Kentucky Downs kicks off with three lucrative stakes

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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