Cuvee, a grade I winner last year who is making his second start since undergoing knee surgery late last year, is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (gr. III) at Turfway Park Saturday.
An impressive 8 1/4-length winner of last September's Futurity (gr. I) at Belmont Park, Cuvee will face five foes in the Kentucky Cup Sprint, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds. The son of
Carson City is the 8-5 morning line favorite.
One of the leading 2-year-olds, hopes for a juvenile championship last year ended for Cuvee with a 12th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park. He later underwent surgery.
Cuvee, who will be ridden by Shane Sellers, started his comeback in the Matt Win Stakes May 8 at Churchill Downs, finishing second to Fire Slam. Cuvee has won four of seven career starts and has earnings of $382,044 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Dogwood Stable's Heckle, who like Cuvee is making his second start off a long layoff, draws the services of John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher. Heckle, a gray son of Hennessy, finished second in an allowance race at Saratoga in his first start in 13 months. Heckle won the Tremont (gr. III) at Belmont last year. He has won two of five lifetime with earnings of $112,845.
Silver Minister has won four of five career starts at Turfway Park and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. He carries 119 pounds, three more than the top two choices. He returns to the dirt after a fifth-place finish in his turf debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 7.
The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Quick Action finished sixth in both the Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 7 and an allowance race Aug. 25 at Saratoga, but won the Anderson Fowler Stakes at Monmouth prior to that. He also carries 119 pounds and is ridden by Calvin Borel.
$100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (gr. III), 3-year-olds, 6 furlongsPP. Horse, Wgt., Jockey/Trainer, ML Odds
1. Swift Attraction, 116, Pat Day/D. Lukas, 4-1
2. Level Playingfield, 116, John McKee/R. Holthus, 12-1
3. Silver Minister, 119, Rafael Bejarano/G. Foley, 7-2
4. Cuvee, 116, Shane Sellers/S. Asmussen, 8-5
5. Quick Action, 119, Calvin Borel/D. Lukas, 6-1
6. Heckle, 116, John Velasquez/T. Pletcher, 5-2
