Duveen will attempt to extend his winning streak to four when he heads to the post for the Jefferson Cup (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs June 16.
Duveen enters the 1 1/16-mile turf race off consecutive wins in graded stakes. Duveen captured the Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park before his last race, a victory in the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs May 4.
Duveen has vastly improved since moving from the dirt to the turf. Duveen lost by a combined 54 ½ lengths in his first three starts, all on dirt.
Trainer Dale Romans moved the son of Horse Chestnut to the turf for his next race, a second place finish in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Duveen’s current winning streak began with his fifth start, when he captured a maiden race at Gulfstream by 4 ¼ lengths.
Duveen races for owner Andrew Farm. He was bred in Kentucky by Richard Brodie, Robert Scanlon, and James Buckley. Duveen is out of Cassanova Storm (by Storm Cat).
Duveen will face six challengers in the Jefferson, including stakes winner Jazz Quest, who hopes to turn the tables on his rival. Jazz Quest finished third to Duveen in the Crown Royal American Turf, losing by one length. Jazz Quest set the pace in that race but could not hold off Duveen’s rally.
Jazz Quest won the Grindstone Stakes on turf at the Fair Grounds prior to his start in the Crown Royal American Turf. The son of Jambalaya Jazz has two wins, two seconds, and a third in his last five starts.
The lightly-raced Lattice has started just three times in his career, with two wins and one second-place finish. His victory came in an allowance race in his last start.
Like Duveen, Trimaran has become a new horse since moving to the grass. Trimaran has two wins and a third-place finish in the Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland in his three turf starts.
The field for the Jefferson Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) includes:
1-Kettle Hill, Calvin Borel, 117
2-Duveen, Mark Guidry, 123
3-Inca King, Shaun Bridgmohan, 117
4-Jazz Quest, Edgar Prado, 117
5-Lattice, Robby Albarado, 117
6-Trimaran, Garrett Gomez, 117
7-Biggerbadderbetter, Rafael Bejarano, 117