Tapit Stakes kicks off 2025 Kentucky Downs meet
Published 1:02 pm Friday, August 22, 2025
- The Steve Asmussen-trained Lagynos wins his 2023 racing debut at Kentucky Downs under jockey Cristian Torres. (COADY MEDIA)
FRANKLIN – The $500,000 Keeneland Sale Tapit Stakes kicks off Kentucky Downs’ seven-day all-turf meet next Thursday with a field of 14 entered, plus two additional horses needing defections to run.
Downloadable Equibase past performances will be available free throughout the meet at themintkentuckydowns.com/live-racing/. First post for the 11-race card is 12:25 p.m., with the Tapit carded as the 10th race with a 5:31 p.m. scheduled start. The meet runs Aug. 28, 30 and 31 and Sept. 4, 6, 7 and 10.
The Tapit purse includes $250,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for horses foaled in the commonwealth and sired by a Kentucky stallion. Thirteen of the 16 entries are Kentucky-bred and run for the full purse.
Kentucky Downs’ new starting gate makes it possible to run up to 14 starters, though the extra two stalls will be used only a handful of times in stakes at certain distances because of the course’s unusual configuration.
Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ vice president for racing, said the value comes from giving trainers and horse owners two more opportunities to run for a huge purse.
“We have to be really cognizant of being too tight to a turn,” Nicholson said. “So for sprint races we won’t use the 13 and 14 stalls, because then you immediately go down a hill. We’re trying to be really conscientious of safety.”
Other stakes that could offer up to 14 starters include the $2 million Resolute Racing Ladies Turf (G3) at a mile on Aug. 30; $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies (mile) Aug. 31; $500,000 The Mint One Dreamer (mile and 70 yards) Sept. 4; $2 million Exacta Systems Gun Runner (mile) Sept. 6; $2.5 million FanDuel TV Mint Millions Invitational (G3) at a mile Sept. 6; $2.5 million KTDF Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2) at 1 1/2 miles Sept. 6 and the $1 million Global Tote Juvenile Mile Sept. 7.
The Tapit is restricted to horses that have not won a stakes in 2025, but that does not mean the field isn’t populated with accomplished runners. California-based Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale entered 2024 Tapit runner-up Nineeleventurbo, who was second in a Grade 2 stakes in both 2024 and 2023. In his only start this year, Nineeleventurbo was third in Del Mar’s restricted Wickerr Stakes on July 19.
Record-setting trainer Steve Asmussen, who tied with Brendan Walsh and Joe Sharp as the leading trainers at the 2024 meet with six wins apiece, is sending out possible Tapit favorite Lagynos and the accomplished dirt horse Track Phantom. Lagynos won his 2023 racing debut at Kentucky Downs and has been a solid performer in turf stakes since, including winning last fall’s Commonwealth (G3) at Churchill Downs. Track Phantom, a graded-stakes winner on dirt and fourth as the beaten favorite for last year’s Louisiana Derby, makes his turf debut in the Tapit.
New York-based Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who has been an increasing presence at Kentucky Downs, entered the duo of Grade 1-placed Ohana Honor and Sherlock’s Jewel.
The formerly Irish-based 4-year-old gelding Mountain Bear was second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and third in Keeneland’s Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) last year before being sold and joining Wesley Ward’s barn. In his last start, Mountain Bear had a rough trip when fifth in Saratoga’s Kelso (G3).
Cameo Performance, trained by Walsh, was eighth in last year’s 1 5/16-mile Nashville Derby (G3) and has subsequently been racing at shorter distances, including a fourth in Saratoga’s mile Poker (G3).
Multitask, making his stakes debut off two turf allowance victories, has a strong Godolphin pedigree (albeit dirt), being from the family of champions Essential Quality and Folklore. Florida-based Steal Sunshine is an accomplished dirt horse who last time out was second by a neck in his first turf start in 28 races.
All-time Kentucky Downs-leading trainer Mike Maker can never be discounted and has a chance to turn $40,000 claim Paros into his latest claimer-to-stakes-winner.
Others: Quatrocento makes his stakes debut after an allowance win and a second at Ellis Park; California-based Astronomer seeks his first win in two years but has multiple graded-stakes placings; Tapit Shoes and Nelson Avenue. Noises Off and Prince of Power need defections in order to run.
Second-week stakes nominations now on Equibase
Horses eligible to all of the meet’s stakes except for several invitationals are now up on Equibase.com.
Among the nominations expected to run: Saratoga’s Grade 1 Test winner Kilwin, who captured last year’s Untapable at Kentucky Downs, will get a rematch with Shisospicy in the $2 million AGS Music City (G2) for 3-year-old filly sprinters on Sept. 6. Shisospicy beat Kilwin in Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Mamzelle Stakes.
Chasing Liberty, winner of last year’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint via disqualification, will run in the $2 million Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson (G1) for 3-year-old sprinters on Sept. 6, confirmed trainer Rob Atras. That gives the meet 10 Kentucky Downs stakes-winners from last year.
Clever Again, second on a disqualification in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes in his turf debut, is being pointed for the $2 million Exacta Systems Gun Runner on Sept. 6.