Turf Cup highlights biggest card at Kentucky Downs

Fort Washington, who's having the best season of his career at age six, will look to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a win in the $2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G1) at Kentucky Downs.

The 1 1/2-mile test, a Breeders' Cup Challenge prep for the Turf (G1), is one of six stakes at the all-turf course on Saturday, annually the biggest card of the seven-day meet.

Fort Washington has won three of his last four, including a half-length decision over 2024 Kentucky Turf Cup upsetter Grand Sonata in the Arlington Million (G1) last month. However, several others also have claims.

Corruption's firm course form this season has been excellent, including a nose loss to Far Bridge in the Pan American (G3) in late March. Mercante enjoyed a solid spring, which included a victory in the Arlington (G3) and a close second in the Turf Classic (G1), both at Churchill Downs, while Utah Beach, who captured the Elkhorn (G2) and Louisville (G3), is a serious 12-furlong danger on his best day.

Goliad, who won twice at Kentucky Downs in a six-day span last fall, including a 9-1 upset of the $2.5 million Mint Millions (G1), will look to defend his title in the one-mile test. Although the speedy veteran has not placed in three interim starts, his fondness for the course makes him one not to take lightly.

Lagynos wheels back on short rest following an easy win in the restricted Tapit S. on Aug. 28, his second win in three starts over the Kentucky Downs strip. Brilliant Berti, who owns an excellent record at Churchill Downs, captured the Gun Runner S. over this course a year ago, while Group 1-placed Cairo can benefit from a drop in trip following a fifth in the 10-furlong Arlington Million.

Other notables include dual stakes winner Air Recruit and Spirit of St Louis, whose form has gone cold since early-season wins in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and Turf Classic.

The $2 million Franklin-Simpson (G1), the lone top-level offering at Kentucky Downs, has also attracted an overflow field. Spiced Up and Governor Sam, who recently finished one-two in the Mahony (G3) at Saratoga, appear the leading contenders, with support also likely to come in on Penn Mile (G3) scorer Dream On.

Test (G1) heroine Kilwin and Shisopicy are the top draws in the $2 million Music City (G2), a 6 1/2-furlong dash for three-year-old fillies. Although Kilwin has winning form over the strip, in last year's Untapable S., Shisospicy handed Kilwin a 4 1/2-length defeat in the Mamzelle (G3) when the pair last met in May. Shisospicy subsequently ventured to Royal Ascot, where she finished 15th of 21 in the Commonwealth Cup (G1).

The full field also includes Tabiti, dead-heat winner of the Oak Tree (G3) at Goodwood last out for Juddmonte, and the Godolphin-owned Pondering, who benefited from a hot pace in beating older rivals in a stakes at Ellis Park last month.

The $2 million Ladies Marathon over 1 5/16 miles has attracted a field of 11, though bettors are likely to focus on Beach Bomb and Spanish Eyes. A dual graded stakes winner at Gulfstream last winter, Beach Bomb was subsequently second in the Sheepshead Bay (G3) and New York (G1), but finished a dull fifth of six last out in the Beverly D. (G2) at Colonial Downs.

Spanish Eyes has yet to win in three starts since her importation from Germany, but enters off seconds in the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) at Delaware Park and the Beverly D.

Germany will also be represented in the $2 million Gun Runner S. by Namaron. A Group 3 winner in his homeland back in April, the gelding was last seen finishing a close second against older rivals in a Baden-Baden Group 3 in late May.

But betting in the one-mile Gun Runner for three-year-olds is likely to be focused on the domestic contingent. The field also includes Secretariat (G2) winner Giocoso, Grade 1 veteran New Century, and the speedy Clever Again, who made an eventful appearance in the Preakness (G1) during the spring.