Oscar Nominated gives Maker third straight Kentucky Turf Cup

FRANKLIN, Ky. -- Trainer Mike Maker had a quartet of contenders in Saturday's $594,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) at Kentucky Downs, and walked off with his third consecutive win in the race when Oscar Nominated edged Postulation by a head in the 1 1/2-mile test.

Winless in eight tries since taking the $350,000 Dueling Grounds Derby over this course a year ago, Oscar Nominated followed in the hoof steps of the Maker-trained Da Big Hoss, who won back-to-back renewals in 2015-16.

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who claimed the ridgling as a juvenile for $75,000, Oscar Performance was no more than 4 1/2 lengths off a pace set by One Go All Go, who set fractions of :51.52, 1:18.10 and 1:46.89. Postulation, the 5-2 favorite, took the lead from stablemate St. Louie with a furlong to go, but Oscar Nominated wore that one down to prevail under Julien Leparoux in a time of 2:31.37.

"He's never had a bad day in his life," Maker said. "Unfortunately it's taken this long this year to get his first victory. We'll get through this and there are plenty of options."

The 7-2 second choice, Oscar Nominated paid $9.40. Postulation finished a half-length in front of Muqtaser for the place, with St. Louie, Taghleeb, Bullards Alley, Nessy, One Go All Go, Enterprising, Zulu Alpha, Lucky Ramsey, and Crescent Drive completing the order of finish.

Also the winner last season of the Spiral (G3) and $50,000 Black Gold, Oscar Nominated has placed in seven others stakes, including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1), Muniz Memorial (G2), Fair Grounds H. (G3), and John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3) earlier this year. His record now stands at 21-5-6-2, $1,168,155.

Bred in Kentucky by Mrs. Jerry Amerman, Oscar Nominated is out of the stakes-winning Theatrical mare Devine Actress, making him a full brother to current multiple Grade 1 star three-year-old Oscar Performance.

Kentucky Downs announced a track-record handle of $8,487,323 on Saturday's 10-race card.