Horse Racing Odds: Kentucky Downs Prizes and Contenders

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$6 Million in Prizes at Kentucky Downs: What to Watch

Kentucky Downs is set for an exciting Saturday. Six graded stakes races will headline a day packed with high stakes and intense competition. With each race boasting a base purse of $1 million and additional incentives for Kentucky-bred horses, this event offers tremendous opportunities for Saratoga betting enthusiasts looking to capitalize on Kentucky’s top horse racing odds.

Horses to Watch: Returning Champions and Rising Stars

Four horses are aiming to repeat their 2023 victories at Kentucky Downs. Get Smokin, who returns to contest the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), stands out in this year’s lineup. Anglophile, the winner of last year’s Dueling Grounds Derby, will compete with him in this esteemed race. The Kentucky Turf Cup, covering 1 1/2 miles, is one of the marquee races of the day, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar this November.

Gear Jockey, a fan favorite, is entered in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2), a race he has already won twice. His track record makes him a top pick for bettors following the horse racing schedule closely. Additionally, Ancient Rome is back to defend his title in the Mint Millions (G3), and Vergara, last year’s Ladies Marathon (G3) champion, will seek to reclaim her crown in the same event.

New Contenders from Europe

The Kentucky Downs races have attracted a strong contingent of horses from Europe, making this an even more competitive event. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is sending over several top horses, including Greenfinch for the Ladies Marathon, Mountain Bear for the Mint Millions, and Chief Little Rock for the Kentucky Turf Cup. 

European trainers like Charlie Hills are also in the mix, with Hills bringing Khaadem, a dual winner of Royal Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1), to contest these lucrative stakes races.

Rising 3-Year-Old Stars

The Saturday card also features stakes races for 3-year-olds, attracting some of last year’s standout 2-year-olds. Vote No, the 2023 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint winner, is set to compete in the Franklin-Simpson (G1), while Crown Imperial, last year’s Untapable Stakes champion, will run in the Music City (G2). These young horses aim to continue their success as they mature, adding excitement for fans and bettors alike.

Kentucky Downs Offers Breeders’ Cup Incentives

In addition to the high purses and competitive fields, the Kentucky Downs stakes races provide crucial incentives for those aiming to compete in the Breeders’ Cup. 

The winners of the Kentucky Turf Cup and Turf Sprint will receive automatic entry to their respective Breeders’ Cup races, with all fees paid. The Mint Millions, Franklin-Simpson, and Ladies Marathon winners will also have their entry fees covered if they qualify for the Breeders’ Cup.

For offtrack betting fans, this Saturday’s card is packed with top-tier talent and plenty of opportunities to wager on.