FRANKLIN – Cogburn is on his way to Del Mar as the likely favorite for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) with his dominating victory in Saturday’s $2 million Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs.

The six-furlong Turf Sprint, which capped Kentucky Downs’ program featuring six $2 million stakes, is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. It would have given Cogburn a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup – except that Cogburn had already earned that by winning Saratoga’s Jaipur (G1) in his prior start. In the Jaipur, Cogburn’s 59.80 seconds time of 5 1/2 furlongs is considered a world record.

At Kentucky Downs, Cogburn, the heavy even-money favorite under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., broke sharply from post position 4 and never looked back. He shot right to the front and proceeded to take the field through opening fractions of 21 4/5 seconds and 44 for the first half-mile. After facing minimal pressure early, Cogburn began to distance himself from his rivals and drew off to win by 3¼ lengths over Khaadem (IRE), who had won a stakes at Royal Ascot in June before two disappointing races in England and France. Longshot Axthelm prevailed by a nose in the photo for third over Nobals.

The winning time was 1:07.68 for six furlongs over a firm course, not far of the track record of 1:07.41.

“I didn’t do much, to be honest, just held it together and he took me all the way,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He’s been amazing this year since Steve (Asmussen) brought him back after a layoff. He’s grown up mentally and physically. He’s doing awesome.”

The Hall of Famer Asmussen has trained several brilliant sprinters, including champion Mitole. He knows brilliance when he sees it.

“What an amazing horse Cogburn is,” Asmussen said. “What a wonderful ownership group. I’m so proud that it’s the first time that he ran since WinStar bought into him, bought his breeding rights. For him to validate the form that he has shown all year long in his turf sprints is very special. I loved how good the field was, and everybody was here. He showed how unbelievably fast he is. We’re unbelievably blessed to be associated with this horse.”

Trainer Charlie Hills was happy with Khaadem’s performance and said a rematch at Del Mar was a possibility. 

“He’s an 8-year-old, but this is all very new to him,” Hills said. “The gate speed was a problem and he found himself a little bit too far back to a very good horse, the winner. Trying to give him 10 lengths is not easy, but he’s come through the rest of the field brilliantly and I’m delighted with him. Maybe we’ll look at the Breeders’ Cup. It could be a possibility.”

Cogburn, a 5-year-old Not This Time horse who races for Clark Brewster and L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, was winning for the third-straight time this year and ninth time overall in 15 starts. He has now earned $2,414,330. The winner returned $4.20, $2.82 and $2.50.

Charcoal, One Timer, Gear Jockey, the defending winner; Coppola, Noble Reflection, Mo Stash, Five o’ Somewhere and Witty completed the order of finish. Grooms All Bizness was scratched.