Kentucky Downs’ 2022 stakes schedule
FRANKLIN, Ky.— The accomplished Long Range Toddy is scheduled to make his turf debut in Thursday’s seventh race at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs, a $180,000 conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and up at a mile.
Long Range Toddy has earned more than $1 million in his career, the bulk coming for breeder/owner Willis Horton and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. But Long Range Toddy, a 6-year-old son of Take Charge Indy, hasn’t won since upsetting Grade 1 winner and future champion older dirt male Improbable for his former connections in the first division of the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles in 2019 at Oaklawn Park.
Long Range Toddy, now doing business for owner Zenith Racing and trainer Dallas Stewart, has lost 22 consecutive starts.
“We’re just trying to find another level for him,” Stewart said. “He’s been working on the turf up here at Saratoga and doing quite well, so we thought we would give it a whirl and see how he does.”
Long Range Toddy, in his last start, finished a well-beaten sixth behind champion Jackie’s Warrior in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at six furlongs July 30 at Saratoga. Long Range Toddy subsequently recorded three half-mile works on the turf there, including a :48.79 drill Aug. 26.
“He worked like he liked it,” Stewart said. “He came out of it bouncing and happy and feeling fresh, so I’m taking that as a plus. But you never know. We’ve got to hope he likes the configuration of the track, and he takes to the turf. If not, we’ll go back to the dirt.”
Long Range Toddy has been competitive in several races during his lengthy losing skid, notably a runner-up finish at odds of 45-1 in the $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs April 9 at Keeneland and second, beaten a half-length, in the $150,000 Aristides Stakes at six furlongs in 2021 at Churchill Downs. Long Range Toddy was also second, beaten a head, behind the well-traveled iron-horse Sir Alfred James in an allowance/optional claiming sprint last November at Churchill Downs.
“A couple of them were really close,” Stewart said. “He had a couple of races that he was close in.”
A three-time stakes winner, Long Range Toddy has bankrolled $1,107,572 in 29 lifetime starts. He has four victories overall.
Kentucky Downs’ 2022 stakes schedule
(All stakes on grass and include KTDF* enhancements)
Thursday, Sept. 1 — $400,000 FanDuel Tapit Stakes, 3-year-olds & up who have not won a stakes in 2022, one mile & 70 yards.
Saturday, Sept. 3 — $1 million WinStar Mint Million (G3), 3-year-olds & up, mile; $500,000 Aristocrat Gaming Juvenile Fillies, 2-year-old fillies, mile; $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, 2-year-olds, mile.
Sunday, Sept. 4 — $750,000 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby (G3), 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles; $500,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles.
Thursday, Sept. 8 — $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint, 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.
Saturday, Sept. 10 — $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf,” 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/2 miles; $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint (G2) “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Division,” 3-year-olds & up, 6 furlongs; **$750,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, mile; **$600,000 Franklin-Simpson (G2), 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs; **$600,000 The Mint Ladies Sprint (G3), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 6 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Sept. 11 — $500,000 Ainsworth Untapable Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs; $500,000 Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs; $550,000 AGS Ladies Marathon (G3), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 1 5/16 miles.
Wednesday, Sept. 14 — $400,000 Gun Runner, 3-year-olds, mile; $400,000 One Dreamer, fillies & mares 3 years old & up who have not won a stakes in 2022, mile and 70 yards; $180,000 Tight Spot Overnight Handicap, 3-year-olds & up, mile.
*Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money, which is restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.
**Will increase to $1 million ($550,000 base and $450,000 KTDF) if a Grade or Group 1 winner starts in the race.
Barn notes by Robert Yates
With Jon Court in the irons Long Range Toddy (outside) bests Improbable by a neck in the first of two divisions of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park (Coady Photography)
