Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky hosts the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions, 5 stakes races over the Polytrack which can be used as preps for the Breeders' Cup. With the Championships being held on a synthetic track for the first time this year, the Kentucky Cup increases in importance. It was an ideal day for racing, temperatures around 80 with clear skies.
The $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic is the headline race of the afternoon. Iselin Handicap winner Honest Man was sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the field of 6, making his first start over synthetic, over 2-1 Stream Cat , sixth in the Arlington Million after winning the Arlington Handicap. Zanjero, the 5-2 third choice, comes into the race off a win in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes at Mountaineer.
Honest Man set fractions of 23.66 and 47.62 while as many as 2 lengths ahead of Canela in second. Extreme Supreme, who had stalked the pace in third early, put in his bid after 6f in 1:11.88, but Zanjero, who had raced in fifth early, was steadily gaining on the leaders. Splitting horses at the top of the lane, Zanjero drew even with Extreme Supreme at the 1/8 pole and ran by him, cruising under the line 1 1/2 lengths clear in 1:49.27. It was another 4 lengths back to Canela third, while favorite Honest Man faded to fourth.
Results chart
