Slideshow: Kentucky Cup Day 2011

Images from WinStar Kentucky Cup Day, September 24, 2011.

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Maker Takes His Fifth With La Gran Bailadora

La Gran Bailadora came from far off the pace on the final turn to capture the $100,000 Distorted Humor Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) Sept. 24, giving trainer Mike Maker three consecutive stakes wins on the Turfway Park card.

Hansen, Matthewsburg Star in KY Cup Races

In a span just over a half-hour, trainer Mike Maker and jockey Victor Lebron teamed up to win a pair of Kentucky Cup races with flare.

Two Other Graded Races on Kentucky Cup Card

A well-matched stakes undercard featuring a pair of grade III events and two other races worth $100,000 apiece supports the WinStar Kentucky Cup in its return to Turfway Park Sept. 24 after a one-year absence.

KY Cup Distaff Top 3 Get Free WinStar Seasons

Each of the first three finishers in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) Sept. 24 at Turfway Park will be awarded a complimentary season to a WinStar Farm stallion in addition to purse earnings, it was announced Sept. 8.

Molly Pitcher: Malibu Prayer the One to Beat

Grade I winner Malibu Prayer will give six pounds to five fillies and mares when she goes to post as the favorite in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 29 at Monmouth Park.

Rachel May Face Up to Seven in Lady's Secret

Rachel Alexandra will have four definite opponents in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes July 24 at Monmouth Park.

Doubledogdare: Striking Dancer in Good Form

Stevestan Stables' Striking Dancer, winner of the La Canada (gr. II) in February and fourth behind Zenyatta in the Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) in her most recent start, will carry top weight in the Doubledogdare

New Orleans Ladies: So Who Will Rachel Face?

The connections of Rachel Alexandra admit that the reigning Horse of the Year will not be 100% cranked for her 4-year-old debut, which will come in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes March 13 at Fair Grounds Races & Slots

Rachel Draws Post 2 in New Orleans Ladies

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra drew post 2 in a five-horse field for her 2010 debut the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes March 13.

Sweet Repent Enters 'Millions Distaff Red Hot

Sweet Repent, looking for her fifth straight win, makes her 4-year-old debut in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park.

Swift Temper Tries Polytrack in Spinster

Mark Stanley's Swift Temper, who upset Seventh Street last month in the Ruffian Handicap (gr. I), will make her first start on a synthetic surface in more than three years as she preps for the Breeders' Cup in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) Oct. 11 at Keeneland.

Gomez Sweeps Kentucky Cup Undercard

With champion jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, Indescribable moved into contention approaching the final turn, put the challenge to pacesetter Whirlie Bertie, and drew off in mid-stretch to win the Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) by 3-1/2 lengths.

THS: Kentucky Cup Classic (Video)

Jason, Tom, and Les Instone from twinspires preview the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II), September 26 at Turfway Park.

Bear Now Tries KY Cup Distaff For New Owners

Bear Now goes for back-to-back Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) titles Sept. 26 at Turfway Park when she takes on nine rivals in the $100,000 Polytrack event for fillies and mares.

Kentucky Cup Day Stakes Fields Taking Shape

Fields are beginning to jell for the three graded stakes races that form the centerpiece of the Sept. 26 Kentucky Cup Day card at Turfway Park.

THS: Presque Isle Masters Stakes (Video)

Jason, Tom, and Tim Holland from twinspires preview the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. III), which features 4 grade I winners.

Grade I-Winning Quartet Heads Masters' Field

Four grade I winners -- Diamondrella, Flashing, Game Face, and Informed Decision -- are part of an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) on tap Sept. 12 in Erie, Pa.

Informed Decision Has the Answers in Chicago

Prohibitive choice Informed Decision shook off a pace challenge at the top of the stretch and drew off for her fifth consecutive win in $140,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) July 4 at Arlington Park.

Hard to Make Case Against Informed Decision

Informed Decision, on a four-race winning streak following back-to-back grade I wins for trainer Jonathan Sheppard, towers over the field for the $150,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III), the Independence Day headliner at Arlington Park.

Fleur de Lis: Miss Isella Has Home Track Edge

Miss Isella, upset winner of the Louisville Distaff (gr. II) last out, looks to build upon that score when taking on eight rivals in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) June 13 at Churchill Downs.

Solid Fields Set for Matron, Hanshin Cup

Two grade III stakes to be contested on Polytrack -- the $150,000 Arlington Matron and the $100,000 Hanshin Cup -- join with a pair of top-notch grass events to provide a quality afternoon of racing at Arlington Park on May 23.

DuPont Distaff: Darley Duo Tops Slight Field

Darley Stable's tandem of Sea Chanter and Skylighter look best in a seven-horse field entered for the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico May 16. The options could narrow, though, if Sea Chanter and another well-regarded entry, Striking Tomisue, run instead in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park the same day.

Miss Isella Posts Louisville Distaff Upset

Miss Isella defeated race favorite One Caroline in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II) at Churchill Downs May 1.

Indescribable Scores in Doubledogdare

Third in the Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) a year ago, Donald Adam's homebred Indescribable was much the best in the 2009 running of the $100,000 event, as she pulled away in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths April 17 at Keeneland.