Kentucky Downs closes its 2026 meet with a massive 14-race card dominated by maiden races and stakes-quality competition, creating one final handicapping challenge on one of the most unique turf courses in American racing.

The maiden races put an added premium on identifying improvement, turf breeding, workouts, second-race development and horses capable of making significant jumps forward. The more accomplished runners bring a different puzzle, with class, Kentucky Downs experience, distance, pace and current form becoming increasingly important.

Tom attacks closing day through traditional form, trips, workouts, breeding, trainer intent and Kentucky Downs experience. Rich’s Ranks bring in the Kentucky Downs race profiles, Smart Sheets, SIM Speed, Total Pace, C-ZONE, PAR, second-race parability, improvement cycles and in-race pace advantages.

Fourteen races remain before the curtain comes down on Kentucky Downs for 2026.

Let’s find a few winners — and hopefully a price or two — before they turn out the lights.

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Race 1: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Mostly Fair with Small 8+ Bonus

Tom’s Tips

3 – Ultraviolet – showed speed, then backed up in the first run. There was a route, and now she is shortening up. Win this time out.

5 – Medinah – first-timer with three solid workouts. Good turf breeding. At 4-1, someone thinks this horse has a chance.

6 – Golden Cause – first-timer with steady workouts, but a good mud workout in June. Breeding indicates turf, and mare offspring have done pretty well.

Consider 13 – Dolly Partime if she draws in.

Rich’s Ranks

11 – R LAST LAUGH – YES horse with 2nd race Parability well past par

5 – MEDINAH – top rated 1st timer with a back bullet

2 – VOTING RIGHTS – 2nd best 1st timer score and a long price

1 – DIVA – another long price with 2nd race Parability

Race 2: 1 Mile – Closers, Rail Bonus, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Fair

Tom’s Tips

6 – Showa – showed early pace behind the leaders and ran an even race. She needs the start, and Jose Ortiz returns to ride.

4 – Social Deception – she got lazy late and ran second after taking the lead. Switches to the turf and will run another good race.

1 – Bold Speaker – ran on the inside and was rallying late to run second at Ellis. One workout for this race and should get a good trip.

Rich’s Ranks

4 – SOCIAL DECEPTION – Only YES horse and by far best 2nd race Parability

5 – NIGHT KNIGHT – 2nd best 2nd race Parability

6 – SHOWA – 3rd best 2nd race Parability

1 – BOLD SPEAKER – 4th best 2nd race Parability

Race 3: 7 Furlongs – Early Speed, 2/6 W2W – Outside In

Tom’s Tips

10 – Exosome – moved, got bumped, but was able to get third in a stakes race at Colonial. This is his first run on the turf, and he has strong turf breeding to suggest good things will happen.

6 – Son of a Birch – two pretty good races at Saratoga, with issues last time out. He was keen in his first run at Saratoga, covering ground before sprinting. Switched trainers for this race.

8 – Ganaas – two seconds in sprint turf races. He tries longer without success but won going six furlongs on the lead. He has two wins on the dirt, but is this seven-furlong race what he really wants to run? I think so.

Rich’s Ranks

11 – ROSE RULER – TLRSP# +5 and Top Total Pace +10 – 2nd up

2 – THE MINKSTER – longshot with as much upside as any – all or nothing 18/5-1-0

6 – SON OF A BIRCH – consistent and fires first up and has some solid works prepping

8 – GANAAS – finally healthy horse – only 2nd time second up a pair of excellent works

Race 4: 7 Furlongs – Early Speed, 2/6 W2W – Outside In

Tom’s Tips

5 – Remember the Time – first-timer with three good three-furlong works. Breeding says turf should be his game. At 3-1 morning line.

7 – Beethoven – first pass. I did not think much of this horse, but this first-timer has good workouts and breeding to be decent on the turf. Mare is strong, with winners and a 447% ROI.

9 – General Tom – it’s in the name.

Rich’s Ranks

2 – MAKING IT RAIN – only YES = must have

5 – REMEMBER THE TIME – top rated 1st timer

3 – MERLIN MONROAN – 2nd rated 1st timer

4 – GRANTCHESTER – 3rd rated first timer

Race 5: 1 5/16 Miles – Closers from Rail or 4-7, 8+ Better Than 2/3

Tom’s Tips

7 – Lazlo – wants ground to run and has a decent turf record at distance. Ran a four at Ellis after pressing the leader and did not finish. He has won since October, but this appears to spot for his win today. Just stay behind the speed and close.

3 – Abbi Fede – he has been the favorite in his past three races and has delivered in two of them at a lower level. He is a strong closer, and with Joe Sharp, he has found a way to unlock his talent. Jose Ortiz returns to ride.

2 – Doctrine – won his first start and ran second in three other starts. In one race, he tried to overcome the twelve post but didn’t. Good post; just needs a clean trip to show what he can do.

Rich’s Ranks

2 – DOCTRINE – TLRSP#+4 back on July 4th – solid 2/3 first timers

7 – LAZLO – most upside – small drop

1 – KING OF ASHES – standout C-ZONE – timing of move matters

9 – DIVISIBLE BY – YES horse will be closing – 3 SP# increases and better in 2nd up

Race 6: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Mostly Fair with Small 8+ Bonus

Tom’s Tips

10 – Hey Miss Olivia – just missed last time out by a nose. In her two other races, she ran second and fourth, moving strong at the end. Get the trip along the inside, and she will get the win.

2 – Eat Hay Run – three-race career with two seconds and one third going one mile. I think switching to a shorter distance will be the key to a successful run.

7 – Sutura – scratch replacement.

Rich’s Ranks

10 – HEY MISS OLIVIA – YES horse – 5 ways better – Top TOTAL PACE

2 – EAT HAY RUN – YES horse – ITM 3/3 – shortening up could help

7 – SUTURA – another YES – her three turf races fit

5 – RULES AND REGS – has a +6 LS edge and Top C-ZONE

Race 7: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Mostly Fair with Small 8+ Bonus

Tom’s Tips

8 – Sailor’s Dream – a Wesley Ward first-timer with good workouts, she is ready to roll to victory. Breeding is fair, and he paid $60k for the horse.

5 – Mandalay – moved late to finish fourth in his first start. He moves from a maiden claiming race after showing in his first start. Added distance may be the key to success.

15 – El Enamorado – draws in and a what is he doing here horse.

Rich’s Ranks

12 – BRAVO TANGO – 2nd race Parability past PAR

8 – SAILOR’S DREAM – top Rated firster with back bullet

1 – MONEY MAN MIKE – 3rd race bounce back – been heavily bet in both races

2 – SALTY VIKING – 2nd race Parability tied with the 5 MANDALAY

Race 8: 1 Mile – Closers, Rail Bonus, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Fair

Tom’s Tips

9 – Satin Blue – she will be closing at the end and has won at Kentucky Downs in a maiden race. She ran here earlier in the meet and made a move to the lead but couldn’t hold it, finishing second.

4 – Amber Cascade – ran a decent race last time at Ellis, finishing third and showing pace. This was a move race from the turf, run on a wet-fast track. Second start; placed in a Grade 2 race last year.

7 – Shotgun Wedding – another scratch replacement.

Rich’s Ranks

4 – AMBER CASCADE – most upside in the race – and was on turf

5 – HEAR THE QUEEN – could be forward vs a field of mid and back types

7 – SHOTGUN WEDDING – Top TOTAL PACE – record says 2nd up should be better

3 – SHE’S LOOKIN LUCKY – a couple of 2nds in a pair at KD – ITM 6/7 at the distance

Race 9: 1 5/16 Miles – Closers from Rail or 4-7, 8+ Better Than 2/3

Tom’s Tips

6 – Moon Law – she was claimed and put on the turf in her last two starts, running second in a claimer and fourth in an allowance race in Indy. In the last race, she was well within her early and rallied late to get in the money. Long shot, but she showed as a much-improved race horse on the turf.

8 – Planet Clare – she has won her last three starts at Laurel and then two races at Delaware. She showed early pace and finished like a good horse. Now, one of the races was on the turf and the other two were on the dirt. For me, it’s hard to pass up an informed horse, and maybe, as she’s getting older, she’s getting better.

2 – Fleetingly – first start since November. She has done well in the past after a break, but will she win? Nope, but will run in the money.

Rich’s Ranks

2 – FLEETINGLY – biggest in-race edge and one of the biggest of the day +13 LS – drops

7 – CAILIN DANA – most upside as SIM FAV

8 – PLANET CLARE – should be involved from start to finish

11 – PRINCESS EM TOO – should be part of the EP – super consistent

Race 10: 2 1/16 Miles – One-Race Profile Won by Deep Closer from 4-7

Tom’s Tips

5 – Tawny Port – won going two miles at Saratoga. He has run in the money in all his races at Kentucky Downs but no wins so far. He ran an even race last time and is ready to put in a better effort today.

1 – Limited Liability – he won this race in 2024 and ran third in 2025, so distance is not an issue. This will be his first start in 2026 and should be on the lead to play, try and catch me. If there is no challenge on the lead, he could win.

4 – Truly Quality – was wide at the top of the stretch last time and ran ok to finish sixth. For me, distance is a question, but maybe that’s what he needs for his best effort.

Rich’s Ranks

8 – LAMBETH – longshot with as much upside as any – comes right back after BTN FAV – standout C-ZONE

2 – PASSING GAME – longshot with +5 LS advantage – Top TOTAL PACE

5 – TAWNY PORT – super consistent – but more ITM than win

6 – NAVY SEAL – Jose gets off the 8 to ride this Wesley Ward horse

Race 11: 1 Mile – Closers, Rail Bonus, 2/3 Discount, 4+ Fair

Tom’s Tips

4 – Otherworldly – Irish horse who has run second twice at the Curragh and Galway and tried and failed at the Curragh in a Group Three race. The one to beat.

11 – One Number – the other Irish runner who won at Lingfield on the all-weather last time, making all the running as a big favorite. First start was a good effort at the Curragh, then a bust at Royal Ascot, ok at Naas, and not much running at Galway. Favorite?

12 – How’s Al Today – a powerful run for a win at Kentucky Downs earlier in the meet on the turf in the first attempt, after a win at Churchill and a third-place finish at Saratoga in a Group 2 race on the dirt. I was very impressed with the midpack run to the win.

Rich’s Ranks

12 – HOW’S AL TODAY – TLRSP# +10 in first turf – and at KD – adds a little distance here

8 – CULPABLE – Pletcher horse with 2nd race upside way past PAR

3 – AGATE – only 3rd career start – more room for growth and +9 LS edge

9 – HIT THE HIGH NOTE – 2nd race Parability – won debut as the favorite

Race 12: 1 5/16 Miles – Closers from Rail or 4-7, 8+ Better Than 2/3

Tom’s Tips

Toughest race on the card.

6 – Call On Me – good success in maiden and allowance races but tried graded company at Saratoga and didn’t run. With her late pace, I am thinking she will get in the money.

9 – Kentucky Belle – scratch replacement.

4 – Turner’s Charm – scratch replacement.

Rich’s Ranks

10 – DAKOTAH BLUE – Top TOTAL PACE and is the biggest class dropper

9 – KENTUCKY BELLE – no bad races in 6 – strong work between races – 2nd up pop possible

1 – BLESS HER – longshot with as much upside as any – crushed in only other 3rd up

7 – BOHEMIAN – SIM FAV that was 5 ways better last out

Race 13: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Mostly Fair with Small 8+ Bonus

Tom’s Tips

3 – Zipline – on the first start, she was bumped early and made a good rally to run third at Colonial. One good workout and a couple of maintenance workouts. Jose Ortiz/Mark Casse runner will improve with the second start.

4 – Fancy Ferrari – first-timer with three last workouts and then a maintenance work for this race. She has the breeding to love turf, but the trainer generally does better on second starts.

5 – Do Wah Diddy – good breeding.

Rich’s Ranks

4 – FANCY FERRARI – top rated 1ster with back bullet

9 – HER FINAL WORD – 2nd rated 1ster with back bullet

7 – RHETT DREAMS – 3rd rated 1ster with back bullet

5 – DO WAH DIDDY – 4th rated 1ster – bullet and go

Race 14: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Mostly Fair with Small 8+ Bonus

Tom’s Tips

8 – White Star Line – a series of excellent workouts. Breeding suggests a turf runner. First-time starter with a lot of upside.

2 – Retrospective – first two races last year showed early foot. She ran second in her first start and was a mess in the second start. First start in May, broke for ten, didn’t get the best start, and had to be steady. She went very wide before running on for third in her first start on the turf. Better post position and a bullet workout as prep to this race.

13 – Secretly Delighted – must be considered, was originally the top pick if she drew in – and she did.

Rich’s Ranks

11 – HARD CHAMP – 2nd race Parability way past PAR

8 – WHITE STAR LINE – 3.0 first timer with back bullet

9 – LITTLE GEORGIE – YES horse with better EP/Fractions last out – more distance helps

1 – BREAKOUT READY – longshot with 2nd race Parability – just missed in debut and seems like an appropriate way to close out KD