Rivelli enters Nobals, Old Timer in Turf Sprint; Bay Storm, Behind Enemy Lines head Kentucky Downs sprint stakes

Saturday’s blockbuster stakes action at Kentucky Downs features six graded events offering purses of at least $1 million, including three sprint events.

Turf Sprint (G2)

Larry Rivelli has a strong 1-2 punch in the 25th running of the $1 million Turf Sprint (G2), entering Grade 2 winner Nobals and Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Preview victor Old Timer. Thirteen are entered for the six-furlong affair, including an also-eligible, and Cogburn also rates as a top contender after defeating Nobals in the Troy (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 13.

As part of the “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the Turf Sprint will award the winner a free berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita in early November.

Nobals reeled off consecutive stakes wins, including the Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs, before coming up three-quarters of a length short in second in the Troy. Gerardo Corrales rides the four-year-old gelding. One Timer has shown an affinity for turf course, winning last year’s Franklin-Simpson (G2) by open lengths in his 2022 finale, and the four-year-old gelding has won two of three attempts this season, including a comfortable one-length tally last out in the Turf Sprint Preview at Ellis on Aug. 6. E.T. Baird retains the mount.

Cogburn enters on the upswing for Steve Asmussen, winning three straight since switching to turf in May. The five-furlong Troy marked his first graded win, and the four-year-old colt will stretch out in trip with regular pilot Ricardo Santana Jr.

Other contenders include Dr Zempf, who returns from a freshening for Chad Brown after recording a fourth in the Jaipur (G1) on the Belmont S. (G1) undercard at short odds. The Irish Group 3 winner has dropped two straight since capturing his U.S. debut over allowance rivals in March, and Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount on the four-year-old gelding.

Dream Shake merits respect for Mark Casse following a victory in the Connaught Cup (G2) at Woodbine, and 2021 Turf Sprint winner Gear Jockey, unplaced in his 2023 opener, is back for another appearance. Last-out Colonial Downs sprint stakes winner Front Run the Fed and Grade 2 runner-up Bad Beat Brian are also part of the mix.