Possiblemente punches BC ticket in Turf Sprint

The rags-to-riches tale of Possiblemente added its most lucrative chapter on Saturday when the six-year-old gelding earned a huge payday coming out on top in the $1,747,025 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2).

Breaking his maiden for a $16,000 claiming tag in December 2022, Possiblemente had never won a six-figure purse before Saturday. His 1 1/4-length success in the Turf Sprint was worth $1,018,675 for owner T and E Racing.

The win wasn’t too much of a surprise to bettors, who backed Possiblemente down to third choice in the field of 11 at odds of around 9-2. For a $5 win wager, he returned $28.95.

The Turf Sprint was the fourth winner for jockey Jose Ortiz through the first six races on Saturday’s card, and the second for trainer Joe Sharp.

Possiblemente, who entered the Turf Sprint off a win in the Jacques Cartier (G3) at Woodbine and a second in the Harvey Pack S. at Saratoga in his prior two starts, pressed Mondogetsbuckets through the opening half mile before pulling away from that rival through the long stretch. Possiblemente finished up six furlongs in 1:09.28 over firm ground on a scorching day in southern Kentucky.

Golden Afternoon led a parade of longshots who earned minor awards, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths over Mondogetsbuckets. The order of finish was rounded out by We’re in Trouble, Okiro, My Boy Prince, 7-5 favorite John he Beer Man, Let My People Go, Beach Gold, Usually Wrong, and Durante.

A son of Tale of Ekati, Possiblemente earned an automatic bid to the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland with the win. Sharp said Possiblemente would be pointed toward that 5 1/2-furlong dash.

While Possiblemente’s rise has been a slow burn, the three-year-old filly Somerset West has come fast and furious in recent months. After posting a 35-1 upset of the July 18 San Clemente (G2) at Del Mar in her first start outside the maiden ranks, the daughter of Kantharos pulled off another stunner in the $1,235,400 Music City (G2).

Under Luis Saez, Somerset West mounted a wide rally through the stretch and was up to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by a half-length in a longshot dominated affair. Sent off at 19-1 here, she returned $102.45 on a $5 wager.

Lion Lake landed second by a head over Ground Support, with Sapphire Beach fourth. Next under the line were Light Won Up, odds-on favorite Cy Fair, Quiet Street, Cadenza, Final Accord, Green Sense, Coco Connect, and Percy’s Bar.

Cy Fair saved ground through the early going but simply could not find any room to make a rally and was beaten two lengths.

Somerset West, a homebred racing for Keith Abrahams, is trained by John Sadler and has now won three of six career starts.

Bless the Broken perhaps has belatedly found her calling on turf. Trying the surface for the first time in the $1,492,500 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G2) over one mile, Bless the Broken prevailed by two lengths under Flavien Prat.

Buttercream Babe, a 19-1 chance, held second by a head over 1.45-1 favorite Classic Q, who never really looked like a winner despite having entered off back-to-back wins in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) and Just a Game (G1).

The order of finish was rounded out by Rashmi, Fast Market, Vive Veuve, and Princesa Moche.

Owned in partnership by Qatar Racing, Mountmellick Farm, and Hunter Valley Farm, the Brad Cox-trained Bless the Broken finished up in 1:34.80 and paid $48.15 for $5.

A four-year-old by Laoban, Bless the Broken’s only prior stakes win had come over Turfway Park’s Tapeta surface, in the 2025 Bourbonette Oaks. She subsequently placed four times in Grade 1 company on dirt, though never seriously threatened to win any of them.

Her future now looks brighter, given how quickly she adapted to the grass on Saturday.