ARCADIA, Calif. – Veteran Gear Jockey and the exciting 2-year-old filly Austere headline the contingent of Kentucky Downs-raced horses in Friday and Saturday’s 14 Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita Park.

Prevailing by a head over One Timer on Sept. 9, Calumet Farm’s Gear Jockey won Kentucky Downs’ $1 million, Grade 2 Ainsworth Turf Sprint for the second time in three years to earn a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Saturday. Jose Lezcano has the mount for trainer Rusty Arnold, who also won Kentucky Downs’ Turf Sprint in 2018 with Totally Boss.

“We have two Breeders’ Cups with him: Kentucky Downs and here,” Arnold said Wednesday morning at Santa Anita Park after the 6-year-old Gear Jockey trained. “The money is a little better there than here. He’s been fortunate enough to win two races in three years, and both of them $1 million. I told somebody the other day, ‘That’s my Royal Ascot’ – without the top hat.”

Gear Jockey was bred and is owned by Brad Kelley, who breeds and races in the name of his historic Calumet Farm in Lexington. Kelley is a Bowling Green native who was raised in Simpson County, attended Western Kentucky and previously owned Kentucky Downs.

Nothing had gone particularly well for Gear Jockey between his Kentucky Downs’ Turf Sprint victories. Given an eighth-month freshener between his 5- and 6-year-old seasons, Gear Jockey missed a scheduled race that was taken off the turf at Ellis Park, with Arnold scrambling to regroup and get the horse into a stakes at Colonial Downs. That sixth of sixth finish obviously was not what Arnold was looking for, but he kept Gear Jockey on course for a return to Kentucky Downs.

“He trained just brilliant for the race and then lucky enough he got his head down on the wire and got himself back here,” Arnold said. “He got right, and he’s a very fresh horse right now, which I think is good for these Breeders’ Cup Sprints. He’s only had two starts last year. He’s extremely happy out here.”

Gear Jockey finished sixth of 12 in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

“He’d maybe had enough,” Arnold said. “It was the end of the year and he was a little bit duller. He’s not dull now. …. He’s going to run really, really well. Don’t know if it will be well enough to win, but he’s going to show up.”

Austere brings her 2-for-2 record into Friday’s $1 million Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Austere won her debut at Ellis Park before taking Kentucky Downs’ $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Fillies by three lengths. She’s ridden by Kentucky Downs’ meet-leader Tyler Gaffalione for meet-leading trainer Brendan Walsh.

“How good she is? I don’t think we’ve really found out yet,” Walsh said. “But we’ll have a fair idea on Friday. She’s doing awfully well, and I don’t think she’ll be too far away” from winning.

Walsh also has French import Lindy in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf. In two U.S. starts, Lindy won a Kentucky Downs allowance race and was a close second in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup won by Mawj, one of the favorites in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“She’s a top-class filly,” Walsh said. “She was a very good filly in France. She’s moved up again, I think, since she came here. It shouldn’t put her too far away on Saturday.”

Other 2023 Kentucky Downs-raced horses in the Breeders’ Cup (Kentucky Downs races listed first):

• BC Turf Sprint: Tony Ann (Grade 3 AGS Ladies Turf Sprint runner-up, won Keeneland’s G2 Franklin). One Timer needs a defection to get into the race.

• BC Juvenile Turf Sprint: Committee of One (maiden runner-up, won Keeneland’s Indian Summer).

• BC Juvenile Turf Fillies: Buttercream Babe (debut winner, Kentucky Downs’ Pepsi Untapable third, Santa Anita’s G2 Surfer Girl second).

• BC Juvenile Turf: Can Group (maiden winner, won Keeneland’s G2 Bourbon); Liam’s Journey (2nd maiden; 3rd Aqueduct’s G2 Pilgrim).

• BC Turf: Balladeer (allowance winner, 1st Santa Anita’s G2 John Henry).{&end}