Premium Tap on Fast Track

Some Breeders’ Cup Classic pretenders will get together in the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic today at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Premium Tap, who is running in the Grade II rather than take on Invasor and Bernardini in the Jockey Club Gold Cup next weekend at Belmont Park, will break from the rail in the 1 1/8 -mile race that attracted six other older horses.

Trained by John Kimmel, Premium Tap, a 4-year-old Pleasant Tap colt, enters the Kentucky Cup Classic off the biggest win of his career. He won the Woodward, a Grade I, by half a length at 31-1 Sept. 2 at Saratoga, beating, among others, the ill-fated Second June and Sun King.

A winner of five of 14, Premium Tap will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. The field is completed by Good Reward, Ball Four, It’s No Joke, Greeley’s Galaxy, Alumni Hall and Perfect Drift.

Perfect Drift is the richest member of the Classic cast. The 7-year-old Dynaformer gelding has banked nearly $4.6 million while winning 11 of 40. He has won four times at Turfway, including the 2003 Classic.

Race of the day: Ashkal Way, who has won four of five starts in the U.S., will look for his second consecutive Grade II win in the $250,000 Kelso Breeders’ Cup Handicap today at Belmont. Mike Luzzi will ride the 4-year-old Ashkalani gelding for Godolphin Stable and trainer Saeed bin Suroor in the one-mile turf race that also lured Drum Major, Art Master, Baron Von Tap, Meteor Storm, Free Thinking, Old Forester and Friendly Island.

The Kelso is part of a national pick four that also includes the Kentucky Cup Classic and the Yellow Ribbon and Clement L. Hirsch from Santa Anita.

One for the road: Trust Nobody looks ready to graduate in his third start in the fifth race today at Belmont. Edgar Prado will ride the 2-year-old Testimonial gelding for Gerson Racing and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in the $41,000 maiden contest for New York-breds at seven furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Wind Water in the second, Totally Gone, Iced Out and Key Maker in the third and Wait A While and Three Degrees in the fourth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/11. Money: (previous day/meet total): $6.40/$51.60. Total money bet: $50.

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