It’s the grand finale of a second straight blockbuster Saturday at Kentucky Downs, and it also offers a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In" berth to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
And ... the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) carries a hefty $2.5 million purse. The 1 ½-mile Turf is the final of five graded stakes on the 12-race card worth more than $14 million.
For those who bet horse racing, it’s a huge day of handicapping for a chance to cash in on the penultimate day of the seven-day season at the track in Franklin, Kentucky.
We’re looking a little more closely at the Turf since the 11-horse field includes last year’s winner Grand Sonata for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and Arlington Million (G1) winner Fort Washington for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
Grand Sonata is the slight 4-1 favorite over Fort Washington at 9-2. Corruption is 5-for-9 on grass and comes into the race off a three-length win at 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga on July 30. We like Corruption out of post 10 at 6-1 and with Jose Ortiz, one of the country’s hottest riders, getting the call looking to go 4-for-4 aboard the 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding.
At 1 ½ miles and a large field there are several longshot opportunities here, among them El Reezen at 8-1 for Pletcher, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.
A case of seconditis has been a huge part of Grand Sonata’s resume. The 6-year-old Medaglia d’Oro horse has five wins and nine runner-up finishes in his 31-race career. He finished second in his last two races – to Fort Washington by a half-length in the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs and to Redistricting by 1 ½ lengths in the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth Park.
“It’s such a hard race to win,” said Todd Quast, racing manager for Grand Sonata owner/breeder Whisper Hill Farm. “With the mile-and-a-half, anything can happen, and usually does. But he is such a cool horse. He tries every time. He and Tyler have a great chemistry, especially at Kentucky Downs.”
Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard Grand Sonata for last year’s win, has the call again from post 6.
With a win, Grand Sonata would become the third horse to win this race twice. The last time it happened, Da Big Hoss won in 2015-16.
Grand Sonata has been ridden by 10 different jockeys, but Gaffalione has been aboard for all five of his wins.
“I was really happy with the way he ran in his last race,” Gaffalione said of the Arlington Million. “I thought we had it won, and that horse came running on the outside. He gave me a really good run that day, and he did everything I asked. He’s one of those horses that show up every time. So we’re hoping for a little luck, he likes the track here, so we’re excited.”
Fort Washington Has Won Three of His Last Four Races
If you’re looking for an across-the-board bet, start with Fort Washington. He may be 9-2, which seems somewhat generous actually, but he’s the hottest horse in the field. The 6-year-old son of War Front has three wins in his last four starts, all with Junior Alvarado aboard. Alvarado has the call again from the outside post 11.
After running fifth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in January, he won the Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Dinner Party Stakes (G3) at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes (G1) Day (May 17). He ran fourth in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 28 prior to his closing run to victory in the Arlington Million on Aug. 9.
“Of course we were very pleased with the Arlington Million,” McGaughey said this week after being unsure whether his horse could run 1 ¼ miles. “I had wondered whether he wanted to run that far or not. He’s trained every bit as good as he did going up to the Arlington Million, and he’d trained going up to that race as good as a horse could train. So, we’ll see how he travels and looking forward to running him. From the Arlington Million until now is the best he’s ever been.”
1 Divin Propos (Frankie Dettori, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 20-1
2 El Rezeen (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 8-1
3 Tawny Port (Manny Franco, Miguel Clement), 10-1
4 Vote No (Luis Saez, Kelsey Danner), 30-1
5 Mercante (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg), 5-1
6 Grand Sonata (Tyler Gaffalione, Todd Pletcher), 4-1
7 Utah Beach (Joel Rosario, Ignacio Correas IV), 6-1
8 Ole Crazy Bone (Flavien Prat, Mike Maker), 15-1
9 Anglophile (Declan Cannon, Brian Lynch), 8-1
10 Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse), 6-1
11 Fort Washington (Junior Alvarado, Shug McGaughey), 9-2
With isolated thunderstorms and rain expected Friday night and into Saturday afternoon, Kentucky Downs management issued a statement that said it is "monitoring conditions" and any updates regarding racing on Saturday and Sunday will be posted on @KyDownsRacing on X.
Statement from Kentucky Downs management on potential inclement weather. #KyDowns pic.twitter.com/SrIaqXYEAs
— Kentucky Downs (@KYDownsRacing) September 5, 2025
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
