KyDowns: Kentucky Belle, How’s Al Today, Tawny Port take closing-day stakes

Kentucky Downs stakes recaps by publicist Ryan Martin (Coady Media/Yeruza Rodriguez photo above of Kentucky Belle taking the Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks under Flavien Prat)

Kentucky Belle earns second Graded win in G3 $2 million Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational; 

How’s Al Today wheels back off short rest to win $750,000 Pepsi Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile;
Tawny Port secures elusive Kentucky Downs score in $750,000 Marsh McLennan Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational

On Ky HBPA Youtube: Kentucky Belle goes from no bids at auction to $1.6 million earner in DG Oaks

FRANKLIN, KY (September 9, 2026) – WinStar Farm homebred Kentucky Belle captured Closing Day Wednesday’s Grade 3, $2 million Blackwood Duelings Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs, making her record at Graded stakes level a perfect 2-for-2.

Trained by Brad Cox, the daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify arrived at the 1 5/16-mile test from a triumphant Graded debut in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 1 at Saratoga Race Course, where she made a winning late run to win by a head. She won in a much easier fashion in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, strolling home to a 6 ¾-length victory under eventual Kentucky Downs Meet Leading Jockey Flavien Prat.

“She’s really getting good. She was stepping into deeper waters [in the Saratoga Oaks],” said Winstar Farm CEO Elliott Walden. “To see her fire like she did that day and come back and put it back together here in an even more authoritative performance, she’s going to have an exciting 3-year-old and 4-year-old year.”

Kentucky Belle emerged from post 9, and tracked the pacesetting Call On Me through opening fractions of 25.29 for the opening quarter-mile and 48.95 for the half over the firm turf course. Around the far turn, Kentucky Belle matched strides with the pacesetter under little urging, and was in clear command with two furlongs to run while being called on from Prat. Wrapped up in the final strides to the wire, stopping the clock in 2:07.45.

An objection was launched by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, aboard runner-up Bless Her, alleging interference turning for home. The objection was ultimately disallowed by the stewards. 

Bless Her finished another three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Turner’s Charm. Completing the order of finish were Bohemian, Dakotah Blue, Charm of Venice, Time to Dream, Call On Me, and Embrace Time. 

Sent off as the favorite, Kentucky Belle returned $9.75 for a $5 win wager, while bringing up her lifetime earnings to $1,632,188 through a record of 7-4-1-2. 

Walden mentioned the Grade 1, $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II on October 10 at Keeneland as a likely next target.

“She’s invited, and so we’ll talk to [trainer] Brad [Cox]. She’s fresh, she’s only run twice in six months, so it would be a nice opportunity for a 3-year-old filly,” Walden said. “That’s the end of the year objective, because it’s hard to run 3-year-old fillies in the Breeders’ Cup against older fillies.”

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On KyHBPA Youtube: Both Als just fine after KyDowns Juvenile Mile

Off just over one week’s rest, Gold Square’s How’s Al Today wheeled back after an Opening Day triumph at Kentucky Downs to win the $750,000 Pepsi Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile.

Trained by Riley Mott, How’s Al Today won an allowance event restricted to Keeneland Sales graduates going 6 ½ furlongs on August 29 last out. He handled the stretch-out in distance and the short rest with aplomb, winning by 4 ½ lengths under returning rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

Leaving the gate from the outermost post 9, How’s Al Today sat in seventh early on while Jas and Tolstoy vied for early command through an opening quarter-mile in 23.29 seconds. Approaching the quarter pole, Hernandez, Jr. tipped How’s Al Today out into the five path with dead aim on the frontrunning Caribbean Warrior. In front by 2 ½ lengths at the stretch call, How’s Al Today won wrapped up in a time of 1:34.84.

Jas held on for second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Agate. Otherworldly, Trim Castle, Hit the High Note, One Number, Tolstoy, Culpable, Sir Hansen, Bet On Silver, and Caribbean Warrior completed the order of finish.

Owner Al Gold of Gold Square believes his newest stakes-winner has found a home on turf.  He was second at Graded level on dirt two starts back. 

“This horse is much better on grass,” Gold said. “Much better…Second time out he was in a stake [Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 1 at Saratoga] on dirt. Then he took to the grass, and loves the grass. I don’t know if he’ll ever see dirt again.”

Returning $17.85 for a $5 win wager, How’s Al Today has now banked $681,584 in lifetime earnings through a consistent 4-3-0-1 record.

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In KyHBPA Youtube: Fourth time the charm in Tawny Port in BG Gold Cup

In his fourth career start at Kentucky Downs, Peachtree Stable’s multiple Graded stakes-winning 7-year-old veteran Tawny Port earned his first victory at the Franklin, Kentucky turf course in the $750,000 Marsh McLennan Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational going 2 1/16 miles. 

Tawny Port was the third stakes winner of the meet for trainer Miguel Clement, who won the Grade 2 1/ST BET Nashville Derby Invitational with Caroline St. Beat and the KTDF Gun Runner with Bottas.

By Pioneerof the Nile, Tawny Port’s prior three efforts were on the board when second in last year’s Bowling Green Gold Cup, as well as the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup. He finished third in the 2024 edition of the Kentucky Turf Cup. 

Tawny Port sat in fifth early on and nearly 14 lengths off the runaway pacesetter Goldeneye as the field made their way down the backstretch for the second time. Jockey Flavien Prat saved ground along the rail nearing the final turn and gave chase nearing upper stretch. With Goldeneye still to catch at the stretch call, Tawny Port dove to the inside and was in command inside the final five-sixteenths to win by three-quarters of a length. 

Lambeth finished second, two lengths ahead of Greystone who finished third. Completing the order of finish were Goldeneye, Navy Seal, Truly Quality, last year’s winner Limited Liability, and Passing Game. 

Tawny Port earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Melbourne Cup on November 3 at Flemington Racecourse when capturing the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup two starts back at Saratoga, and Clement is giving the prestigious ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ plenty of consideration. 

“We have the Australian temptation going on which we are having heavy discussions about, which I can’t wait to consider,” Clement said.

Other potential targets, according to Clement, include the Grade 1 Canadian International on October 3 at Woodbine, and the Grade 2 Man o’ War on November 28 at Belmont Park. 

Tawny Port’s record now stands at 34-7-6-5 with earnings of $2,801,631. Going off as the favorite, he returned $12.50 for a $5 win wager.