Kentucky Cup Race Report (Cont.)

"When he made his move, I knew we had it," Satish Sanan said. "This horse gives you the encouragement to keep coming back."

Also money well spent was the record price paid by The Thoroughbred Corp. for Atlantic Ocean, winner of the one-mile Juvenile Fillies. The late Prince Ahmed Salman purchased the filly for $1.9 million out of the Barretts 2-year-olds-in-training sale in March. While it took her three starts to break her maiden, her first two races were at five and 5 1/2 furlongs. "She was running in races that were too short," Baffert said. "When they go 5 1/2 furlongs and stop, that usually is a sign they want to go long."

Atlantic Ocean got her distance at Turfway, and after sitting third off the early pace, swept to the lead at the top of the lane to pull away by 2 1/2 lengths. Second was a rallying Ruby's Reception, the even-money favorite. The final time was 1:40.39.

Baffert exits Turfway with two strong contenders for the Breeders' Cup 2-year-old races.

Gate Speed
The Kentucky Cup Sprint (gr. III) is the last graded sprint for 3-year-olds until the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) on Dec. 26. And the last has proven to be first in producing top runners, like Reraise in 1998 and Caller One in 2000. Another quick one for the list is Day Trader, owned by Overbrook Farm, and trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

A son of Phone Trick, Day Trader was two lengths in front three jumps out of the starting gate. "I've made a living by running gate horses for a long time," Lukas said after Day Trader's 3 1/4-length romp in 1:10.01.

"He's a big, powerful horse," Lukas said of the steel gray colt. "Having strength over this racetrack is important. It's hard to catch up over this track." Day Trader blazed the opening quarter in :22.17, and ran the half in :45.14. Aboard was Pat Day, who rode three winners on the day, including another stakes aboard Trip. While Lukas has Orientate in line for the Napa Auto Parts Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), he may throw Day Trader into the mix.

Claiborne Farm's Trip won the 1 1/16-mile Turfway Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for fillies and mares for the second year in a row, and stretched her local record to four-for-four. Claiborne's Dell Hancock said Trip's mark would stand, as Trip will join the farm's broodmare band at year's end. "She's by Lord At War, so there are a lot of different stallions we could go to." Her win came in 1:43.01. Trip is trained by McGaughey. Tenney said she was to ship back to New York with Pure Prize on Sept. 15, but likely will make her last career start at Churchill Downs.

(Chart, Equibase)