Mid American gives Epicenter first stakes winner in Juv Sprint
Mid American scores in $750,000 Keeneland Sales Juvenile Sprint;
Chasing the Crown wins second straight $500,000 Tight Spot Overnight H.
Stakes recaps by Kentucky Downs publicist Ryan Martin (Coady Media/Cady Coulardot photo of Mid American winning the Keeneland Sales Juvenile Sprint)
On KyHBPA Youtube: Jaime Torres talks about Mid American’s Juvenile Sprint victory
FRANKLIN, KY (August 29, 2026) – Doubledown Stables’ Mid American solidified a strong turf maiden win with a victory in Saturday’s $750,000 Keeneland Sales Juvenile Sprint going at Kentucky Downs.
The juvenile colt gave first-crop sire Epicenter his first stakes winner in the 6 ½-furlong test, which came following a second-out maiden victory by 3 ¼ lengths on the turf at Ellis Park.
Piloted by Jaime Torres from post 6, Mid American tracked in fifth along the inside just over three lengths off the pace, while Arctic Wolf controlled the early tempo through fractions of 22.72 and 45.75 over the firm turf. Saving ground around the far turn into upper stretch, Mid American launched an inside rally and took command within the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length. Post-time favorite Good To Be King closed late to get second two lengths ahead of third-place finisher Pinpoint.
Arctic Wolf, Admiral’s Order, Boyhood Dream, Just a Holiday, Grand Yaupon, Vissino, Braums Run, and Ultimit Warrior completed the order of finish. Waggley scratched in favor of tomorrow’s $750,000 Untapable.
Mid American made his debut over the main track finishing seventh, and is now unbeaten in both of his starts on grass.
“That race at Ellis was visually impressive to me, this horse seems to really like the grass,” said trainer Jimmy DiVito. “He had a really good turn of foot, and we just had to take a shot at Kentucky Downs.”
Torres was also aboard for Mid American’s maiden score.
“He’s a very easy horse to handle. First time out on the turf, he did everything right but we talked about running him a bit longer,” Torres said. “Six-and-a-half [furlongs ] here is about seven [furlongs]. He ran well, and he did what we thought we could do.”
The win brought Mid American’s lifetime earnings up to nearly $500,000 through a 3-2-0-0 record.
Bred in Kentucky by Sunny Oak Farm, Mid American is out of the Exchange Rate mare Wampum Girl. He was bought for $180,000 at this year’s OBS April 2-Year-Old Sale.
Chasing the Crown wins second straight $500,000 Tight Spot Overnight H.
On Ky HBPA Youtube: Hear from Chasing the Crown’s winning connections
Paradise Farm Corp., David Staudacher, and Angelo Carlesimo’s Chasing the Crown scored a victory in the $500,000 Tight Spot Overnight Handicap going one mile at Kentucky Downs.
Chasing the Crown, a 7-year-old son of Skipshot, earned his first win since last year’s running, and entered from three defeats to heavy favorite and prior Kentucky Downs stakes winner Lagynos.
Trained by all-time Kentucky Downs leading trainer Mike Maker, Chasing the Crown laid sixth in the early stages while pacesetter Maycocks Bay set early fractions of 23.77 and 46.38. Maycocks Bay maintained a dwindling advantage in the upper stretch, with Chasing the Crown improving to second by the stretch call. In the final half-furlong, Chasing the Crown confronted Mayocks Bay and won by 1 ½ lengths. Maycocks Bay finished another length ahead of third-place finisher Silent Heart.
Herchee, Lagynos, Sea Singer, Sumood, and Publisher completed the order of finish.
Maker did not rule out a quick turnaround for Chasing the Crown, noting that he could race back in the Grade 3, $2 million Mint Millions on September 7.
“That’s our goal,” said Maker.
The win brought Chasing the Crown’s lifetime earnings up to $1,421,205 through a 26-7-6-4 record.
