1999 Kentucky Cup Turf Festival

Dateline: 9/26/99

Sunday was the second annual Kentucky Cup Turf Festival with four races totalling $700,000. Three of last year's winners were back to defend their title along with a nice bunch of turf specialists from all over.

Cat Daddy serves up barbeque and hospitality at Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs is a unique experience and a fun place to visit. The atmosphere is like a county fair with tailgate parties in the parking lot, a live band playing, and tent or bleacher seating. There is no grandstand building or toteboard, just a covered area for the betting windows, although there is a clubhouse building about a quarter mile up the stretch. Mostly it is filled with simulcast players who don't even know there are horses racing outside! If you ever get a chance, drop by there in September when they run their short meet and enjoy some back to basics racing and some barbeque.

Kentucky Cup Turf Dash

3  Run Johnny     7.00  3.20  2.40 
6  Prankster            2.60  2.20 
7  Coup                       3.40 

Final time:  1:11.60

$2 Exacta 3-6           16.60
$2 Superfecta 3-6-7-5  590.00
$2 Trifecta 3-6-7       85.80

Run Johnny, trained by Morris Nicks and ridden by Pat Day, stalked the pace and won by a length over favored Prankster. Last year's winner, G H's Pleasure, finished fifth.

Full Chart

Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Handicap

6  Pleasant Temper    3.20  2.20  2.10
2  Formal Tango             2.20  2.10
7  Prado's Pride                  2.10

Final time:  1:37.20

$2 Exacta 6-2           4.80
$2 Superfecta 6-2-7-8  41.20
$2 Trifecta 6-2-7      14.00

Heavy favorite Pleasant Temper made her repeat win in the Ladies Turf Handicap look easy as she took the lead and never looked back. Trained by Elliott Walden and ridden by Pat Day, she took a convincing step on her journey to a start in the new Breeders' Cup Turf Distaff.

Full Chart

Kentucky Cup Mile Handicap

7  Treat Me Doc        65.80  16.20  7.40
5  Dernier Croise (FR)         5.00  4.40
3  El Angelo                         4.60

Final time:  1:37.20

$2 Exacta 7-5            304.80
$2 Superfecta 7-5-3-6  7,344.20
$2 Trifecta 7-5-3      2,821.80

Longshot Treat Me Doc rallied in the stretch to just nip Dernier Croise by a head. He is trained by Eugene Brajczewski, Jr. and was ridden by Jon Court. Favored Inkatha with Pat Day up faded to 6th.

Full Chart

Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap

 8  Fahris (IRE)       13.80  7.60  4.80
10  Yaqthan (IRE)             7.40  5.40
 2  Royal Strand (IRE)              6.80

Final time:  2:29.60

$2 Exacta 8-10             69.20
$2 Superfecta 8-10-2-9  1,523.80
$2 Trifecta 8-10-2        378.40

Last year's winner Yaqthan, again accompanied by his bus load of owners, tried to repeat his wire to wire performance of last year but was caught in the final strides by fellow Irish bred Faris. The winner, who shipped down from New York, is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and was ridden by Shane Sellers. There was an objection from 6th place finisher Pay Zone for interference in the stretch, but it was disallowed.

Full Chart

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