The annual Kentucky Cup Day of Champions at Turfway Park was downsized this year due to budgetary concerns, with two of the races suspended for this year and the purses cut for the ones which remained. The star of the show was jockey Garrett Gomez, who came in from California and swept all three stakes races.
The highlight race on Saturday was the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) for older horses going 1 1/8 miles. Lane's End Stakes winner Hold Me Back was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in his first race against older horses, exiting a runner-up finish in the Travers. 10-1 Timeless Fashion battled for the lead with 60-1 Godolphin Gray through fractions of 24.31, 48.41, and 1:12.42 over the fast Polytrack, while Hold Me Back sat 8th early. Entering the stretch, the pacesetters tired while 9-2 second choice Dubious Miss came on to take a short lead through a mile in 1:36.43. However, 6-1 Furthest Land, 5th early, closed well 4 wide and outfinished Dubious Miss to win by a neck in 1:48.41. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to 9-1 Sligovitz third, while Hold Me Back disappoingted in 6th beaten 10 3/4 lengths.
Winning trainer Mike Maker said, "When we got Garrett, my confidence skyrocketed. I loved his race on the Polytrack at Keeneland, and we just haven't had a chance to race on it since. I threw his race on the dirt at Canterbury out because I know he prefers this surface. I'd think we'd take a look at the (Breeders' Cup) Dirt Mile. The Fayette Stakes looks like a logical next start."
Jockey Garrett Gomez added, "He broke running and got a little aggressive on me, so I eased him back. I took him 4 or 5 wide in the first turn and let him settle. I had my eye on (Dubious Miss) and (Wicked Style). Calvin's horse came out a little but I got (Furthest Land) on his right lead and hit him twice left-handed."
