HORSE RACING

​2022 TVG FanDuel Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Betting Odds and Contenders Preview

Some of the top horses in the turf sprint division convene at Kentucky Downs for one of the richest races that division has to offer: the $1,000,000 FanDuel Turf Sprint!

Some of the top horses in the turf sprint division convene at Kentucky Downs for one of the richest races that division has to offer: the $1,000,000 FanDuel Turf Sprint! Newly upgraded to Grade 2 status for this year, the race also offers its winner an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

Turf sprints are typically popular races and this one is no exception: in addition to 12 horses in the main field, there are three in the also-eligible list. Some are familiar faces in high-level turf sprint races, like the 2019 winner of this race Totally Boss, Grade 2 winners Arrest Me Red and Chewing Gum, and Grade 3 winners Arzak and Bran. Others are hoping to break onto the scene in Kentucky.

Keep on reading to learn about the field, find out which races tend to produce winners, and see how to watch and wager on the race online!

FanDuel Turf Sprint 2022 Information

Race Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022
Track: Kentucky Downs
Post Time: 4:10 p.m. Central Time
Distance: six furlongs on the turf
Age/Sex: three-year-olds and up
Where to Watch: TVG.com
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing

FanDuel Turf Sprint Odds

Kentucky Downs drew the field for the FanDuel Turf Sprint on Wednesday, September 7 and has since assigned morning lines. In such a big field as this, it can provide some clues about who is expected to be favored and who may be a long shot. However, with so many horses racing over an interesting and unconventional footing, following the board is as important as ever.

This is the field for the 2022 FanDuel Turf Sprint, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds.

PostHorseTrainerJockeyOdds
1Johnny UnleashedEric FosterGerardo Corrales30-1
2Chewing GumBill MottJoel Rosario5-1
3Necker IslandChirs HartmanFrancisco Arrieta15-1
4CharcoalTracey WisnerRafael Bejarano20-1
5ArzakMichael TrombettaKazushi Kimura9-2
6Bob's EdgeLarry JonesAdam Beschizza30-1
7Gregorian ChantPhil D'AmatoJose Ortiz10-1
8BranJohn SadlerVincent Cheminaud6-1
9Front Run the FedCaio CaramoriJose Lezcano15-1
10Totally BossRusty ArnoldFlorent Geroux12-1
11Chasing ArtieSaffie Joseph, Jr.Edgard Zayas15-1
12Arrest Me RedWesley WardIrad Ortiz, Jr.9-5
13 (AE)Artemus CitylimitsMike MakerTyler Gaffalione12-1
14 (AE)A C ExpresswayNorm CasseJoseph Talamo30-1
15 (AE)TorontotoroPaul McEnteeJack Gilligan30-1


As the race gets closer, make sure to stay tuned to FanDuel TV to get all the information you need to make the smartest bets. With up-to-the-minute information until race time, you can see the odds and also find out information that can help you play the board. Whether it is a favorite that might take less money than expected or a long shot who takes more enthusiastic action than you thought, information is power, and staying tuned will help you find the best betting values.

FanDuel Turf Sprint Prep Results

Since Kentucky Downs is such a short meet, horses almost always prep for this race elsewhere. Among the 15 entrants in this year’s race, they enter from 12 different races, none of which were at the Franklin oval.

Only one of the races supplying two horses is a turf sprint: Charcoal and Totally Boss finished a close second and fourth in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Ellis, designed as a prep for this race. Gregorian Chant and Bran finished two-three in the Wickerr, a restricted one-mile grass stakes at Del Mar. One of the races producing two starters was on the dirt. The Chesapeake Stakes, a sprint at Colonial Downs, featured Necker Island (first across the wire, but disqualified to third for drifting) and also-eligible Torontotoro, who finished fifth.

Others prepared across the country. Arrest Me Red, the morning line favorite, was recently second beaten only ½ length in the Jaipur (G1) behind Casa Creed, who returned to win another Grade 1. Arzak was fourth in the Troy (G3) last out, but less than a length behind turf sprint division leader Golden Pal. Chewing Gum, the only other horse to prepare in a graded stakes, was most recently fourth in the Connaught Cup (G2), a seven-furlong sprint on the Woodbine grass.

The only horse to win a stakes in his final prep was Chasing Artie, who won the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park last out. Front Run the Fed was most recently fifth in the Fourstardave (G1), but turns back in trip and drops in class for this. Johnny Unleashed and Bob’s Edge both finished off the board in dirt stakes at Churchill Downs last out, in the Mighty Beau and Kelly’s Landing, respectively.

Two others on the also-eligible list last raced in allowances; Artemus Citylimits won a third-level turf dash, while A C Expressway was a close second in a second-level allowance at seven furlongs on dirt.

FanDuel Turf Sprint Contenders

Johnny Unleashed: He finished second behind superstar Golden Pal in the Woodford (G2) this year, his first graded placing. And, his trainer Eric Foster won his first graded stakes this Kentucky Downs meet with Kitodan in the Dueling Grounds Derby (G3). However, Johnny Unleashed has been off the board in both tries over the Kentucky Downs grass and he has been buried on the rail in a huge field.

Chewing Gum: The six furlongs at Kentucky Downs, more grueling than a traditional turf sprint, should be right up his alley: he broke his maiden at the mile at Kentucky Downs in 2019, and two back he won the Joe Hernandez (G3) down the hill at Santa Anita. He cuts back from a seven-furlong try at Woodbine, too. He has tables to turn on Arrest Me Red, but if someone softens that foe up front he should be a threat late.

Necker Island: This tracking type is a far more proven dirt horse; all seven of his victories have come on the dirt, and he has been in sharp form sprinting on the main lately. He has hit the board once in two turf tries and has some grass pedigree, and his connections have entered him in turf races lately only to scratch him. If he can replicate his recent dirt form on grass he interests, but demand a price.

Charcoal: He has not won since August of last year, but he is holding his own against good company in recent races. He has been second in stakes company in his last three starts, including in his last two on turf, and finished just ahead of Just Might in the prep for this race at Ellis. His tactical speed is a plus, but his speeds are on the slow side and he ran off the board in a $25,000 starter allowance in his only Kentucky Downs try.

Arzak: He won the Jacques Cartier (G3) three starts back over the Tapeta at Woodbine, but ran good races on grass in his last two, including a fourth-place finish in the Troy just ¾ lengths behind an actual world-beater in Golden Pal last out. He is versatile enough to win from the front end, a stalking spot, or a closing trip, and can run over firm or rain-affected going.

Bob’s Edge: He looked like a rising dirt sprint star at Oaklawn this winter, but his form turned south in two starts since that meet. A switch to grass is interesting, since he won a turf sprint allowance at Keeneland last October going five and a half furlongs. There are a lot of question marks between turf, Kentucky Downs, and his form, but he has some cracking works leading into the race and maybe the layoff has helped this long shot.

Gregorian Chant: He rallied second in the one-mile Wickerr at Del Mar last out, but has some solid turf sprint form earlier in the year. He won a top-shelf allowance over fellow contender Bran down the hill in March, and also ran a good third in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) on Oaks day behind Arrest Me Red and Bran. Kentucky Downs is an unknown, but six furlongs suits, and he can hit the road and run well.

Bran: He has been clashing often with Gregorian Chant, who typically (but not always) has his number. He ran well in the Wickerr but the cut back from a mile should suit nicely, and he has the speed and stamina to be strong in 6 ½-furlong and 7-furlong grass races. That bodes well for the taxing 6f at Kentucky Downs, and his tactical speed gives him a good running style for the course.

Front Run the Fed: Since the barn move from Chad Brown to Caio Caramori last summer, it took him a while to get his sea legs, but he pulled out a win in the Van Clief at Colonial last out. Though he wasn’t too badly beaten in the Fourstardave (G1) next out, and he cuts back for this, it is also a concern that his better efforts tend to come with Lasix and he won’t get that here.

Totally Boss: Usually a closer, this turf dash division fixture won this race in 2019 from near the front end. Turf condition may be a serious question with him: his victory came over firm going, but he was just seventh in 2020 over soft ground. He rallied well late for third in his prep race at Ellis last month, though, and for a horse who has so many layoffs in his career it is an excellent sign that he returns just a month later for this race.

Chasing Artie: He has held his form well since moving from the Wesley Ward barn (where he was through last year) to the Saffie Joseph barn this year, and has won two of his four outings this year. However, graded stakes company has been just a little bit beyond him, as suggested by his tries in two this year. He has some early speed, though it is unlikely that he outjumps Arrest Me Red to his outside even if he doesn’t stumble as he did at Churchill Downs.

Arrest Me Red: This is a big field, but Arrest Me Red should be a well-defined favorite given his class and consistency. He does his best work on or near the front end, and this outside draw should be able to get him a clean leading or pressing trip. He has never missed the board in a six-furlong turf race, either. The biggest question is Kentucky Downs, as he has not tried the track, but Wesley Ward wins enough races here to have a touch for who will take to it.

Artemus Citylimits: He needs one scratch to draw in. He carries a two-win streak into this race, but those wins came in second- and third-level allowances in New York. Even so, he has serious early speed from the outside, enough to make the top if he draws in. He has never missed the board at six furlongs on grass and hit the board in his only Kentucky Downs try, giving him intrigue as a long shot.

A C Expressway: He needs two scratches to draw in. He has run a couple of good efforts in allowance company in his last two races, though was well beaten in his only stakes try and now tries turf for the first time against a salty field. His dam has produced a turf winner, but sire Mineshaft is more aligned to dirt and this is a tough assignment.

Torontotoro: He needs three scratches to draw in. He has not tried turf in almost a year, and was no match when trying stakes company last out on dirt at Colonial. His last win was a romp in a fourth-level allowance at Mountaineer, but these are much more difficult horses and it would be a surprise to see him find enough to compete here.

FanDuel Turf Sprint Past Winners Past Performances

Establishing a prep race pattern for the FanDuel Turf Sprint is difficult not only because Kentucky Downs is such a short meet, but because the turf sprint division has only more recently become a more prestigious division in the United States with more graded events available. In the last ten years, winners have come from nine different prep races.

However, the last two winners of the FanDuel Turf Sprint have come from the same race: the Troy (G3) at Saratoga. Imprimis was third in that race in 2020 before successfully raiding Kentucky Downs, and Gear Jockey was third in it in 2021. One horse in the 2022 edition comes from the Troy: Arzak.

Out of the last ten winners, Saratoga has been the live place to prep: in addition to those two Troy winners, three others also ran their last race at Saratoga, two in ungraded stakes and one in an allowance. Front Run the Fed and Artemus Citylimits are the other two entrants who tightened their screws at the Spa this year.

FanDuel Turf Sprint Undercard

The FanDuel Turf Sprint is the 9th race on Kentucky Downs’s rich 12-race card on Saturday. It is one of the five-million-dollar races on the card (including purse enhancements in the Ladies Turf and the Ladies Sprint, given the presence of Grade 1 horses), and one of six graded races on tap for the day. With double-digit fields and six- or seven-figure purses in every race, it is one of the best betting days of the year, so plan to stay tuned to FanDuel TV and TVG.com all day long to watch and wager!

Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs is an all-turf racetrack that holds a short meet every September. The turf course is just over 1 1/4 miles in length, and is European style in the sense that it has undulating portions and a slight right turn seven furlongs out in addition to the more typical American-style left turns.

The track opened in 1990 as Dueling Grounds, since the property had been used for duels in the early 19th century since it was just over the Kentucky border from Tennessee, which prohibited dueling. The track was used for steeplechasing in the beginning, but switched to mainly flat racing as of 1992. Though the track missed the 1997 season, it was purchased by new ownership that renamed it Kentucky Downs, and it has been racing ever since. After Kentucky approved historical racing, Kentucky Downs hosted it on site, and that has helped make the purses and fields at Kentucky Downs some of the biggest in the country.

FanDuel Turf Sprint FAQ

Q: When is the FanDuel Turf Sprint?
A: Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 4:10 p.m. Central time.

Q: Where is the FanDuel Turf Sprint?
A: It takes place at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the FanDuel Turf Sprint?
A: Four trainers have won this race twice: Rusty Arnold, James Dodgen, Kenneth Hoffman, and Mike Maker. Two of those leading trainers are represented in 2022. Arnold sends out Totally Boss; Maker entered Artemus Citylimits, though he is on the also-eligible list.

Q: Who is the favorite for the FanDuel Turf Sprint?
A: From his strong second-place finish in the Jaipur, Arrest Me Red is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and will likely go off favored in the FanDuel Turf Sprint. However, 9-2 second choice Arzak will probably be well-bet also given how close he finished to Golden Pal in the Troy last time out.

Q: Who is the best FanDuel Turf Sprint jockey?
A: Robby Albarado has won the race four times, most recently in 2016 with Successful Native. He does not have an entrant in this year’s edition. Among jockeys riding in the race this year, Rafael Bejarano (Charcoal) and Florent Geroux (Totally Boss) have the most wins, with two each.

Q: Who won the FanDuel Turf Sprint in 2021?
A: Gear Jockey won the 2021 edition for trainer Rusty Arnold and jockey Jose Lezcano. Arnold returns this year: but does so with Totally Boss, who won this race for him in 2019.