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.