Trainer Greg Foley will send graded stakes winner Pleasant Hill in search of her fourth career victory when 12 fillies and mares go postward in the Sept. 29 Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) at Turfway.
A daughter of Pleasant Tap, the 4-year-old filly won the Aug. 18 Gardenia Handicap (gr. III) at Ellis Park in her last start and was second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance event before that. In six career starts she has three wins and three seconds for Donamire Farm, with one of those seconds coming over the Turfway Park Polytrack in September 2006. Pleasant Hill is the co-highweight in the field of 12, carrying 122 pounds under jockey Larry Melancon.
Also carrying 122 pounds is grade III winner Kettleoneup, a daughter of Victory Gallop trained by Michael Tomlinson. Kettleoneup finished fourth in the Aug. 25 Molly Pitcher Breeders Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth Park and has not won a race since her victory in the April 21 Sixty Sails Stakes (gr. III) at Hawthorne Park.
Carrying a lighter weight and coming off a win is the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee I’m In Love, winner of the Sept. 8 George Rosenberger Stakes on the Delaware Park turf. The 4-year-old daughter of Zafonic has been first or second in all but one of her four attempts over synthetic surfaces, which should help her at Turfway. She carries 120 pounds under jockey Willie Martinez.
The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers from the Sept. 8 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) are entered in the Kentucky Cup Distaff, with second-place finisher Ms. Lydonia looking to pose the greatest threat. Before losing that race to Solo Survivor by just one length, the Christine Jenks trainee won an allowance optional claimer over the Arlington Park Polytrack. Third-place Matron finisher Delicate Dynamite and fourth-place finisher Eyes on Eddy will also run.
Danzon, Sweetdownthelane, Leo’s Pegasus, Tuffted, India, and Warrior Girl round out the field. Mama I’m Home and Maggie Slew are also-eligibles.
Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III, race 9, 5:12 p.m.) 1 1/16-miles (Polytrack); fillies & mares 3 years old and up
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. Danzon, Julien Leparoux, 116
2. Kettleoneup, Calvin Borel, 122
3. Sweetdownthelane, Mario Pino, 120
4. Eyes On Eddy, Terry Thompson, 120
5. Ms. Lydonia, James Graham, 116
6. Leo's Pegasus, Jamie Theriot, 118
7. Delicate Dynamite, Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr., 120
8. Tuffted, Christian Rojas, 120
9. India, Christopher DeCarlo, 120
10. Warrior Girl, Larry Sterling, Jr., 116
11. Pleasant Hill, Larry Melancon, 122
12. I'm in Love, Willie Martinez, 120
AE Mama I'm Home, Casey Chavez, 116
AE Maggie Slew, Randall Toups, 116