Exotics Plays for the 2022 Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Arrest Me Red with Irad Ortiz riding wins the Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

September 8th, 2022

An overflow field of 15 is entered to contest the lucrative, $1 million Turf Sprint S. (G2) at Kentucky Downs on Saturday. The six-furlong dash features numerous top one-turn turf performers, led by morning-line choice #12 Arrest Me Red (9-5) for conditioner Wesley Ward. The four-year-old will be the key to my exotics wagers as the one to beat.

By Pioneerof the Nile, the colt has been ultra-impressive since joining this barn in August of 2021, winning four of his six stakes outings, led by a facile victory in the Turf Sprint S. (G2) at Churchill Downs two back. He was a sharp runner-up when leading to late stretch in the recent Jaipur S. (G1) at Belmont Park, and if he repeats that race, then the Lael Stables color bearer will be very difficult to knock off. Irad Ortiz taking the reins only adds to his appeal.

#10 Totally Boss (12-1) looks to be rounding back into his 2019 form when he eclipsed this race for conditioner Rusty Arnold. The Street Boss gelding has battled injuries over the past two seasons, but his pair of outings have been very good in 2022, and I like that he has positive experience over this course. The one-run closer will be doing his best work late with Florent Geroux in the stirrups.

#9 Front Run the Fed (15-1), purchased for $440,000 in the fall, was second by a neck in the event in 2020 and has a lot of top-three appeal while making his third start off the shelf. The Fed Biz six-year-old ran evenly while going longer in the deep Fourstardave H. (G1) at Saratoga most recently, and the bay will appreciate the cutback in distance on Saturday. Jose Lezcano will be in the silks.

Daytona S. (G3) victor #8 Bran (6-1) has been consistently very good for John Sadler while winning or placing in five straight in total. The speedy four-year-old has very good early foot in a field lacking an abundance of pace, and the son of Muhaarar could get brave if he clears the cast out of the gate. Vincent Cheminaud will guide the French-bred.