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Fri 12/09/2014 - 13:03 EDT

$600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup Looks Up For Grabs

Picking a winner in the Grade III $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup does not look like easy task with eleven qualified runners lined-up to contest the mile and a half race over the undulating, European-style turf course September 13 in Franklin, KY.

While it’s tough to dismiss 3/1 morning line favorite War Dancer, he’s not exactly the type of horse that thrives on finding the winner’s circle.  Although War Dancer has posted a respectable four wins in twelve lifetime starts on the grass, the Kenneth McPeek trainee has entered the starting gate favored in four of his last six starts earning just one victory by a head in the Grade III Louisville Handicap.  Still, War Dancer is a proven commodity at classic and marathon distances on the grass and his most recent start – a fourth place effort in the Grade I Sword Dancer – might have been the best of his career. 

O'Prado Ole could be right there at the wire

At 5/1, O’Prado Ole might be worth considering for trainer Dale Romans, although he finished behind War Dancer in the Sword Dancer last out.  Before that effort, O’Prado Ole finished a fine second in the Grade III Stars N’ Stripes at Arlington Park behind next-out stakes winner, The Pizza Man.  Distance will not be an issue.  

Tricky Hat may get first run 

Tricky Hat (6/1) could be sneaky good in this kind of race.  With an absence of quality speed in the Kentucky Turf Cup, Tricky Hat figures to find a comfortable stalking position behind soft fractions and get first run on the closers.  Trainer Shug McGaughey is hitting at a 21% clip with runners making their second start off layoffs between 31 and 60 days.