The Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint, When a Sprint is not a Sprint

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time calling any race at Kentucky Downs a sprint. I don’t care if it is 4 furlongs, over that course to me nothing is a sprint. That includes The Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint to be run on Saturday. A nice cool mil purse drew a field of 9 to race six and a half furlongs through the meadows and over the hills about 35 miles north of Nashville Tennessee in Franklin Kentucky.

Fast and Feminine breaks from the rail. She appears to need more than the quirky Kentucky Downs course and a cool name to make her competitive with these. She is a toss for me.

Quaria Comet comes from one of the sharpest barns around. She is in good form and likes this course. She knows how to win, still has upside and is a major player here. I don’t land on her, but she can win this for sure.

Wakanaka is the one to beat in my opinion and I am not of the opinion they will. For me the only questions are if she will handle the course and Joel shows up with a good ride. She chased a very good and fast horse going shorter than she wants to last out and in her prior races of late was close to better fillies than she will face here. I think the distance is ideal especially over this course and she is set for a peak race.

Train to Artemus is as honest as the day is long and tries every time she gets loaded into the gate. She looks a cut below the better ones in here but likely makes a little noise at some point.

Tony Ann has nice west coast form for a very dangerous barn. I don’t know how well the move from California turf courses to Kentucky Downs will play out but this filly is second off the lay-off and primed to move forward. I can’t argue with anyone siding with her, but I’d be surprised if she can handle Wakanaka at this point.

Bay Storm is the morning line favorite and fits. That said she doesn’t look all that much better than the other contenders if better at all. She ran very well in this race last year and I’d expect another solid try, but I think we can beat her.

I like Woodbine horses over this course. Our Flash Drive will probably take to this turf and can contend here on her best. She’s one I will use under the horse I like, but not on the win end.

Unbridled Mary is the other west coast invader. I don’t think she is as good as Tony Ann and faces the same turf course transition as that one does.

Gal in a Rush is on a roll but will have to take another step forward to contend let alone win. That is not an impossibility, but I’d bet against it especially over this course.

I am all in on Wakanaka. I think she runs a big one here and gets it done. Joel just show up and I think she will handle the course just fine. She has the bottom and class she’ll need.

Enjoy the races and win the photos!