FRANKLIN, Ky.— Just after 6:30 on Friday morning, Gufo, the 7-5 Global Tote morning-line favorite for Saturday’s G2, $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup, poked his head out of his stall at the barn area at Kentucky Downs.
He looked bright and alert 45 minutes after stepping off a van following a 16-hour ride from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Right next door, to Gufo’s right, was his travel companion and stablemate from trainer Christophe Clement. That would be Big Invasion, who is the 8-5 Global Tote morning-line choice in the G2, $600,000 Franklin-Simpson Stakes, also on Saturday.
Clement will not be making the trip to Kentucky; he is entrusting the saddling duty to his long-time assistant Christophe Lorieul. Speaking by phone from New York, Clement was gushing about his 5-year-old Gufo, who won the G1, $750,000, Sword Dancer at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 27 at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Turf Cup, which is for 3-year-olds and up.
“I like him very much,” Clement said. “He has been a very honest horse for the last three years. He has been competing at the top level for the last three years.”
Gufo won the Sword Dancer for the second straight year, giving him three Grade I wins on his resume.
The only part of the narrative that Clement doesn’t particularly like is that Gufo is coming back to the races quicker than he would normally like.
“I am doing something that I usually don’t do, which is to run a horse back at the top level in two weeks,” Clement said. “But he surprised me with how well he came back from the Sword Dancer. I thought the level of his energy was so high and he looks so good. It’s very difficult to pass on a million dollar race if you think you could be one of the choices.”
Following the Sword Dancer, which he won by a half-length, Clement gave Gufo one week of easy jogging and another with gallops.
“He is telling me he is doing well so it’s worth taking a shot,” Clement said.
The veteran conditioner said he has no reservations about the Kentucky Downs course possibly having some moisture in it as rain is in the forecast.
Gufo, a son of Declaration of War who is owned by Stephen Cainelli’s Otter Bend Stable, won the Sword Dancer over a course labeled good.
He does not have the same confidence for 3-year-old Big Invasion, who has run over firm courses in all seven of his starts.
“With him, the rain is a concern,” Clement said. “He loves faster ground. He is a very fast horse and has an enormous amount of quality.”
Big Invasion, like Gufo, will be ridden by Joel Rosario. Big Invasion, also a son of Declaration of War, is owned by Dean Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. He is coming off a successful season at Saratoga where he won twice, the Quick Call (G3) and the Mahony.
Both races were at 5 1/2 furlongs and he won them by a combined 5 3/4 lengths. Big Invasion has never raced at 6 1/2 furlongs but has a win at seven.
Neither of Clement’s horses have ever run at Kentucky Downs. Having Rosario, who won a record 17 races there last year, puts the trainer at ease.
“He knows Kentucky Downs very well,” Clement said. “I will listen to the jockey.”
The big purse money was another reason that Clement was willing to give his horses a long journey.
“The purses make you feel a bit brave to go there,” he said.
By Tim Wilkin – Kentucky Downs Press Release
Photo: Gufo after arriving at Kentucky Downs (Jennie Rees)
