An estimated crowd of 13,640 came out to Turfway Park on Saturday for the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions, with ideal racing conditions. Most came out for the main event, the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2), carded for older horses but billed as a match race between 3-year-old arch-rivals Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Travers stakes, and Hard Spun, winner of the Lane’s End and the King’s Bishop. Street Sense was the slight 4-5 favorite over 9-10 Hard Spun.
The crowd did not go home disappointed. Hard Spun, breaking from the rail, immediately took the lead into the clubhouse turn as Mario Pino held onto the inside path forcing Street Sense to race wide throughout. Pino controlled the pace with slow fractions of 24.45 and 48.16. Turning for home, Hard Spun picked up the pace, getting 6f in 1:11.46 as Street Sense drew even with him. However, Hard Spun had plenty left in the tank, pulling away to win in the final furlong by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:48.48, less than a fifth of a second off the track record for the 1 1/8 mile distance. It was a long 3 1/4 lengths back to Stream Cat in third, and 11 1/4 more to Cat Shaker in last.
Results chart
