Spot Plays for the Turf Sprint, Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs

The biggest day of the 2021 meet at Kentucky Downs is Saturday, and both $1 million features -- the Turf Sprint (G3) and Turf Cup (G2) -- are "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge preps.

Here are the preferred choices in both.

Race 8 -- Turf Sprint (G3) -- 5:09 p.m. ET

Favored in this event the last two seasons, and victorious a year ago despite a less-than-ideal trip, #12 IMPRIMIS (6-1) figures to be overlooked with the likes of #9 Got Stormy, #7 Casa Creed, and #2 Fast Boat entered.

Imprimis made no serious impact against Fast Boat in the Troy (G3) last out, but was returning from a four-month layoff after suffering a broken nose before the start of the April 3 Shakertown (G3), which he lost by a nostril to Bound for Nowhere.

Aside from the Troy, Imprimis' only disappointing race over the past 13 months was in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) last fall, in which he endured a rough trip. His run in this race a year ago was also eventful, as he was shuffled back midway and needed every inch of the six furlongs to recover and prevail.

With the prep behind him, and a strong work at Palm Meadows last month, Imprimis can make his presence felt again in the closing stages.

Race 9 -- Turf Cup (G2) -- 5:44 p.m. ET

Trainer Mike Maker has won four of the past six renewals of this 1 1/2-mile feature, mostly with horses more highly rated than #9 GLYNN COUNTY (15-1). Maker will have two shorter-priced contenders and a longer shot in here, but Glynn County merits a look.

After two strong allowance wins during the spring, the latter over this distance, this local grad contested both the United Nations (G1) and Mister D. (G1). Unfortunately, false paces in both likely blunted his effectiveness.

Although the barn has been cold this week after a stellar Saratoga session, Glynn County looks a potentially useful, graded-quality colt who's just beginning to come into his own. Slight improvement, a more honest pace, and another sub-par run from morning-line favorite #5 Arklow, a two-time winner of this race, may give Glynn County the opening he needs to factor at a price.