Building tickets with Set Piece in Kentucky Cup Classic

An overflow cast of 13 will go postward in the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park on Saturday. While the field is sizable, it is hard for me to dismiss morning-line choice #2 Set Piece (8-5) for conditioner Brad Cox. The talented gelding will finish first or second with something resembling his top effort, and while siding with the chalk is not especially exciting, there are many ways to make money with the Juddmonte Farms’ homebred in the vertical exotics.

Set Piece is two-for-two at Turfway with a pair of superb late-running tallies on the surface. Dark bay son of Dansili is a sterling five-for-five in his lifetime on synthetic ovals, and he shows four solid morning drills in advance of his return to the Bluegrass State too. The five-year-old will be passing foes with every stride in the stretch beneath Geroux.

A key player in the race will be #9 Visitant (10-1), who is something of an all-weather specialist himself with a 7-5-1-1 mark on synthetic strips. The son of Ghostzapper has put in a trio of very good efforts locally since adding blinkers, and his sprint tally off the bench should have him set for a big performance second time off the shelf. The Morey pupil will retain the services of Deshawn Parker.

The lack of pace in the event is apparent to me, which will aid the chances of #3 Crafty Daddy (9-2) in his first try on the Turfway strip. The stakes-winning son of Scat Daddy exits a try with much better in the Clark S. (G1) last time out when he was outrun from the break after a slow start. But he will be in a much more favorable position into the first turn on Saturday. The capable gelding could dictate things with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the stirrups.

Here is how I will be building my bets:

Kentucky Cup Classic Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 2 with 9 ($15)
• $10 Exacta: 2 with 3 ($10)
• 50-cent Trifecta: 2 with 3,9 with all ($10)
• 50-cent Superfecta: 2 with 3,9 with 3,9 with all ($9)
• 50-cent Superfecta: 2 with 3,9 with all with 3,9 ($9)