Foreign Friday is staying home again this week, but there may not be a more international-looking American racing card than what Kentucky Downs has lined up for Saturday.

The massive 12-race program features some of the biggest turf races of the meeting, including the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational, Nashville Derby Invitational, Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and Music City Stakes.

Huge purses have attracted deep American fields along with accomplished international runners, and Kentucky Downs adds another variable with its unusual European-style turf course. The rolling terrain, long stretch, sweeping turns and demanding finish make this a very different handicapping challenge from the typical American turf race.

Tom attacks the card through form, trips, breeding, workouts, class and trainer intent. Rich’s Ranks add Kentucky Downs-specific race profiles, Smart Sheets, SIM Speed, Total Pace, C-ZONE, PAR, second-race parability, class movement and improvement potential.

Twelve races. Huge money. International runners. Big fields.

Let’s go looking for some prices.

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Race 1: 1 Mile – Stalkers, Rail Bonus, the Rest Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

9 – Bear Paw – one very good workout from the starting gate. Bred to be a good turf runner. The sire’s first crop has been doing well on the turf. A bit of a surprise, but then there is American Pharoah. Should be a good price.

3 – Ataya – a series of fair workouts and breeding on the turf. Shadell runner. Trainer doing well with 2yo with excellent ROI.

1 – Love Line – not much in the first start, but has had a quick workout since that race. Her race was won by a now-stakes-winning horse. On the mare side, turf all the way. We don’t really know what kind of foals Flightline will produce on all-weather, dirt, or turf.

Rich’s Ranks

7 – VIAGGIO – TLRSP# +7 and top 2nd race Parability way past PAR

9 – BEAR PAW – top Rated 1st timer vs all noes and a pair of 2nd race upside types

4 – MONIQUE EN VOL – 2nd rated 1st timer with a back bullet

1 – LOVE LINE – decently bet in debut and can get past PAR too

3 – ATAYA – scratch alternative

Race 2: 7 Furlongs – Early Speed, 2/6 W2W – All Winners From Posts 4+

Tom’s Tips

11 – Yalta – if he does not draw into the race on Thursday, then he is my top pick for this race. Showed speed last time and held second at the finish. This was new with the addition of blinkers. Is this the key to get to the winner’s circle? I think so.

4 – Verboten – same trainer as the top pick, but this is a first-time starter with a few good workouts on the all-weather. The trainer has a very strong ROI with first-timers, 2yo’s, and first turf tries.

1 – Rupp – most likely the favorite and ran a good race on his first start. He showed speed and was close to the lead until the end, finishing third. From my perspective, he needed a race.

Add to my choices: 8 – Castle Pines if my top selection does not run here.

Rich’s Ranks

1 – RUPP – only YES horse and 2nd race Parability – way past par – drops a little

6 – OVERTIME BONUS – 3rd rated 2nd race Parability – but drops – given the edge over…

3 – PHANTOM FLASH – 2nd best 2nd race Parability

2 – POP AND LOCKE – top Rated 1ster vs all noes

4 – VERBOTEN – scratch alternative

Race 3: 1 5/16 Miles – Stalkers, Rail Bonus, 2/3 Hard, 4-7 Best, 8+ Discount

Tom’s Tips

8 – Andthewinneris – claimed by Mike Maker after the last race, with this race in mind. He won his last start as the favorite, going two wide and finishing strongly. He has been running well in his last few races, and he should be the favorite again.

3 – Gilded Craken – if the speed bias is holding, this horse will be on the lead. He did better last time, and he appeared to be trying again at the end. Jose Ortiz rides again.

4 – Risk Manager – a dead closer who has won in a while but was claimed two starts back and has been showing progress. An 8yo veteran with 43 starts on the turf and eleven wins, five seconds, and three thirds. He will make that wide bid late in the race, and I am playing him for an in-the-money finish.

Rich’s Ranks

8 – ANDTHEWINNERIS – better EP/Fractions – lone PC – pairs up winnable efforts

3 – GILDED CRAKEN – post is a ? but has the best combo of EP/LP – 2nd by a neck at KD

6 – DIVIN PROPOS – last race was brutal – but not on turf – most upside – rebound race

2 – IDRATHERBEBLESSED – super consistent – better 5 ways and drops

9 – ESMARK – scratch alternative

Race 4: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Posts Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

3 – Kilby Girl – with only three races, she has run on all surfaces. She was not a fan of the dirt but won and finished second on the all-weather and turf. Shows speed again. Watch that bias if it is playing in the sprint races. She hung tough last time, finishing second at Saratoga at 11-1. Ward horse.

6 – R Slew of Cash – showed speed last time out and backed up to run seventh at Saratoga. I think switching from the route to a sprint race may be what she needs. After her win, she ran against minor stakes horses with limited success.

8 – Mechaya – they remove the blinkers today, and she has won and finished second at Kentucky Downs. She has run only twice this season, and her best finish was second in a sprint. She returned to sprinting after trying one mile as the favorite without success, though she had some trouble in the running. Today, she will do much better.

Rich’s Ranks

8 – MECHAYA – most upside with the biggest in-race edge +6 LS

1 – BOURBON NOTES – longshot with the best combo of EP/LS

4 – EMBLAZE – will be closing and getting more distance with Jose helps

3 – KILBY GIRL – could have the most upside in the 4th start

9 – JUDICIOUS – scratch alternative

Race 5: 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% W2W – Posts Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

7 – Puteketek – he knows how to run third and has done so in four of his six races. He had one bust race at Saratoga and a second at Keeneland. What is different today? He tries the turf for the first time, and I think that will be why he wins.

3 – Blazing Tiger – he has shown speed in all his races for the most part and finished in the money four out of five times, but he just does not get the job done. Maybe today? He tried two turns and sprinting now. Can he win?

1 – Red Square – showed late kick in his first start after a not-so-smooth beginning and ran third. He showed early foot and was bumped late to run fourth. In both races, he had starting-gate issues, including breaking through the gate before the start. He was the favorite in both races, and Wesley Ward figured out how to get this horse to break. He should run well.

If 16 – Moviestar Handsome draws into the race, consider him.

Rich’s Ranks

1 – RED SQUARE – 3rd race bounce back – forget last race – broke through gate – 3rd race

6 – JUBILEE PARADE – YES horse – better EP/Fractions

7 – PUTEKETEKE – TLRSP# +3 – but trying turf for the 1st time

4 – ELEOS – Big SIM FAV and Top TOTAL PACE – hasn’t fired on turf yet

16 – MOVIESTAR HANDSOME – scratch alternative

Race 6:  Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint – 6 Furlongs – Early Speed, 3/5 W2W – Strong Rail, 2/3 close to fair, 4-7 tough, 8+ Fair

Tom’s Tips

9 – Golden Afternoon – ran second last year at Kentucky Downs in a stakes race. He has been up against stakes company all season without success, and they added blinkers last time out. The difference in his last race was the blinkers; he showed speed in retreating. He won an allowance race in April, so does he like this track? I will take a chance at a fair price.

4 – Beach Gold – he is dropping from route races to try sprinting and has shown early foot lately. He has a couple of thirds this season in four races, and the last was ugly but also a route. Interesting move, and the trainer has been working him at six furlongs.

1 – Troubleshooting – he went off the favorite last time out and ran third despite a whole bunch of problems, but he was still trying at the end. With three runs this season, he has a second and two thirds. He has won at one mile, but he is best at sprinting.

Rich’s Ranks

11 – JOHN THE BEER MAN – TLRSP#+7 – Top TOTAL PACE with +7 ES and Top C-ZONE

10 – MY BOY PRINCE – most upside as the top closer

1 – TROUBLESHOOTING – 1 for 1 at KD and maybe better in the 2nd up

6 – POSSIBLEMENTE – super consistent – going to be coming at the end – Jose

7 – USUALLY WRONG – scratch alternative

Race 7: Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational – 1½ Miles – Closers, Outside In 

Tom’s Tips

10 – Fort George – in his first start after running in Dubai, he ran second in the Bowling Green and just missed by a nose. In the race before, he did not run at all in the Dubai Turf. He ran second to Rebel’s Romance in Dubai in the earlier race. If the first start is any indication, he will run a good race today.

7 – Burnham Square – he is the one to beat with four wins in a row, and the last race was a win in the Arlington Million. He can sit on the pace or come from behind to win.

6 – Ethical Diamond – the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner enters the race with a win at Leopardstown after a poor run at Royal Ascot and little better in Dubai in the Sheema, where he was beaten by Calandagan and could not reach the leaders. He is reunited with Roger Moore, and he has won on him at Royal Ascot. Next season, he may return to jumping fences.

Rich’s Ranks

7 – BURNHAM SQUARE – head from winning 5/6 since switching to grass

6 – ETHICAL DIAMOND – Breeders Cup Turf winner – coming off Group 3 win

10 – FORT GEORGE – blazing LP in US debut and solid works since

1 – TIFFANY – a German Group 1 winner – not sure how that translates

8 – OLE CRAZY BONE – scratch alternative

Race 8 – Nashville Derby Invitational – 1 5/16 Miles: Stalkers, Rail Bonus, 2/3 Hard, 4-7 Best, 8+ Discount

Tom’s Tips

6 – Causeway – he comes into the race off the worst race of his career at Longchamp. He led, then fell apart. The race was won by Maltese Cross, one of the best 3yo’s in Europe. Previously, he won five races in a row, including a win at Royal Ascot. I think he will bounce back, or Aidan O’Brien will not send him here. Ryan Moore has the mount and is a master at setting the right fractions to win.

3 – Glacius – a Hugo Palmer runner who went off at 10-1 last time in the Saratoga Derby, took the lead early, and held on to win. Prior to that race, he was only a novice race winner but had good finishes in all his races. He will have company running on the lead, but he has fought back in races.

8 – Fancy Sailor – he is improving with each start and has won two in a row at Ellis and Churchill, going one mile and an eighth last time. He sits behind the pace, which is good for the early fractions, and will be able to show that closing kick again in the rising stretch.

Rich’s Ranks

3 – GLACIUS – TLRSP# +5 – lone dropper – out front as lone E and Top C-ZONE

6 – CAUSEWAY – O’Brien and Moore international shipper with G2 and G3 wins

5 – VERSAILLES ROAD – as much upside as any of the rest

4 – CAROLINE ST. BEAT – has not run a bad race in 4 – why not at a price

2 – ROYAL GUARD – scratch alternative

Race 9:  Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf – 1 Mile: Stalkers, Rail Bonus, the Rest Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

7 – Rashmi – one mile is her distance; she has eight starts and five wins, one second, and one third. She ran second for most of the race and then could not find enough to finish. Maybe the all-weather track is not for her. Back to the turf, she is at her best.

1 – Bless the Broken – since she has moved up to graded stakes company, she has done everything well except win. She has run against grade one runners and finished second or third. The inside post is not favorable, but she ran third at Churchill from post one.

4 – Hang the Moon – she ran second last time out at Saratoga over one mile. She tried grade one company the race before and was a bit slow at the start, which she most likely could not overcome. She has form, and running in the money is my prediction.

Rich’s Ranks

1 – BLESS THE BROKEN – we’ll take a shot at beating the heavy fav – 1st turf – sizable drop

2 – CLASSIC Q – highly consistent – could be lone E – but going to get challenged

3 – VIVE VEUVE – most turf upside – elite late kick at times

7 – RASHMI – finally healthy – 1st time making back-to-back starts since March 25

4 – HANG THE MOON – scratch alternative

Race 10 – Music City Stakes – 6½ Furlongs – Stalkers, 40% w2w – PPs mostly Fair

Race Profile: Stalkers, 40% W2W – Posts Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

8 – Percy’s Bar – ran second in the Test at Saratoga and stumbled at the start. She has one work as prep for this race. She has never run on the turf, but she has been a good sprinter overall, with a grade one win in the Ashland. A very interesting decision to run her here. Price?

1 – Cy Fair – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner who has won her last two races and has been the favorite in all three of her races this year. This will be her first try at this distance, and everything suggests that will not be an issue. She has won on firm and soft going and has the pace to bounce off the leaders.

4 – Good Sense – she has two wins in her career, one at Chantilly in a Group 2 race on soft going at six furlongs. Her last race was at Royal Ascot in the Jersey Stakes, going seven furlongs, where she ran with the leaders in the center of the track, which was out for a clear run, but she finished no better than fourth. This was a good race, and now she has been transferred to Joseph Saffie.

Consider 13 – French Friction if she draws into the race.

Rich’s Ranks

1 – CY FAIR – not much away from being undefeated in seven

10 – SAPPHIRE BEACH – one of three horses to beat CY FAIR to the finish line

8 – PERCY’S BAR – sizable drop – highly likely to be better in round two off the sidelines

12 – CADENZA – never off the board in five on grass – did get smoked by top two picks

7 – SOMERSET WEST – scratch alternative

Race 11: 7 Furlongs – Early Speed, 2/6 w2w – PP: All from 4+

Tom’s Tips

8 – Taliesin – showed speed last time out in her first turf try and ran a good third. She has shown speed in her past dirt efforts. She placed in some stakes races and won three in a row at a lower level at Parx. Is turf where she really belongs?

11 – Yellow Sun Dress – after a few races on the all-weather earlier in the year, she moved back to the turf with a winning effort at one mile, then ran at Churchill, running wide and just did not have enough at the end to run third. She ran ten races on the turf with four wins, one second, and three thirds.

4 – I’m Mo Joke – tried a bit in the race last time and then nothing at the end. Last win was in February at the Fairgrounds; add blinkers today and see if this horse can get back to winning ways.

Rich’s Ranks

8 – TALIESIN – most upside in the race – if she has any turf ability – last race says yes

6 – LUCY MCGEE – maybe the most consistent turf runner in the race – Top TOTAL PACE

5 – ABIENTOT – finished 3rd in the last four and six of nine – goes here

2 – NOTABLE EXCHANGE – looking for more in 2nd up – SIM FAV and Top SIM SP#

1 – GRADE A – scratch alternative

Race 12: 1 Mile – Stalkers, Rail Bonus, the Rest Mostly Fair

Tom’s Tips

7 – Stir – a first-time starter with steady workouts. She should like the turf on her mare side, but the sire is not known for turf runners. I like the works enough to think this race is a good place for a first run.

10 – Ageeba Beach – a slow start in her first start, but a very strong finish, gaining to the end and running fourth. This was a dirt race, and now a try on the turf, so that one good run will result in a good finish.

5 – Fregata – she has run nine times, and her last two have been good finishes, running in both races. Both times, she ran on the inside rail for position and missed by a neck in one race. Breaking from the five post should allow the jockey to get her behind the leaders to finish well again. She has one really good workout coming into this race.

Also consider if they draw in: 14 – Little Georgie and 15 – Beach Ballad

Rich’s Ranks

12 – ELEONORA – 2nd race Parability

7 – STIR – rock solid 1ster with great works

13 – LIGHTNING RUN – same 2nd race Parability as the 12, but has to draw in

10 – AGEEBA BEACH – another that could pop in 2nd career race – needs a better start

15 – BEACH BALLAD – 1st scratch alternative but needs to draw in

5 – FREGATA – 2nd scratch alternative

A Massive Saturday at Kentucky Downs

This is exactly why we keep bringing Foreign Friday home to Kentucky Downs.

International shippers. American graded-stakes winners. Huge purses. Deep fields. Unusual distances. A course unlike anything else in the country.

And Saturday brings the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational, Nashville Derby Invitational, Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and Music City Stakes together on one monster card.

Favorites will win some of them.

But at Kentucky Downs, we’re much more interested in finding the ones the crowd gets wrong.