Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer knew something the bettors missed – Cappuchino likes Kentucky. Belying his 31-1 odds, the 5-year-old broke first, finished first, and was never seriously threatened in his successful bid to win the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship (gr. III) Saturday. Cappuchino, a Kentucky-bred son of Capote set quick fractions of :22.87, :46.38 and 1:11.18 on his way to a four-length victory and a gigantic payout of $65.80, $25.20, and $8.40. Winning time for the mile was 1:37.19."Perfect," said winning rider Dean Sarvis. "A perfect ride. I had plenty of horse left."Cappuchino had yet to win in five starts this year, all in California, including his most recent effort, a fourth-place finish two months ago in the Alameda Handicap at Pleasanton. The horse has been stabled at Turfway since Hollendorfer brought him along with Adreamisborn to the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. III) last month, and he has trained well over the track. George Todaro, co-owner with Howard Litt and Hollendorfer, said, "The California tracks are very different, rock hard, and it favors a different kind of speed. I think he likes it better (at Turfway). If he gets an easy lead, he's gone. I thought the jockey did a good job – kept him out three or four from the rail. It's tougher to pass from the outside. It was a well-ridden race. "All along our thought was to bring him back this year at least to the same two races he did well in last year." Cappuchino finished third in the Turfway Park Fall Championship last year and then won the Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.Crafty Shaw, who won this race in 2002 and 2003, was high weight at 122 and gave up seven pounds to Cappuchino, who had the lightest impost in the field. Crafty Shaw ($5.00, $3.00) caught Added Edge near the wire to take second by a neck. Added Edge ran with Cappuchino early and then held on for third ($3.00) by a length. Alumni Hall, favored at 2-1, finished an unexpected sixth of seven.
Ask the Lord was fourth, followed by Eagle Time, Alumni Hall and Spanish Empire. Ministers Wild Cat and Intelligent Male scratched before post time.(Chart, Equibase)
