Grand Sonata slipped through an opening along the inside rail on his way to posting a half-length victory in the $2 million, G2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Saturday, 7 Sept.
The five-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro set a new course record with the victory, covering 12 furlongs on the turf in 2:24.93.
Breaking from the far outside in the field of nine, Grand Sonata was settled off the pace and along the rail through the early stages of the race by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was content to let last year’s winner, Get Smokin, set the early pace. Grand Sonata continued to hug the rail, patiently waiting for a gap to open. When it finally did at the quarter pole, Grand Sonata shot through it to take the lead, then was able to hold off the late challenge from Highway Robber (Hard Spun), to win by a half-length.
Grand Sonata was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Whisper Hill Farm LLC, and is out of the mare A. P. Sonata (by A.P. Indy). A. P. Sonata is a daughter of the Graded Stakes-winning mare, Moonlight Sonata (G3 Arlington-Washington Lassie S.) and is a half-sister to G2 Stakes winners Wilburn (by Bernardini) and Beethoven (Sky Mesa), and to Listed winner, La Appassionata (Bernardini). Another half-sister, Venetian Sonata (also by Bernardini), is the dam of G3 Las Virgenes winner Moonlight d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro).
Grand Sonata is Medaglia d'Oro's fourth Graded/Group Stakes winner of the season, joining Delahaye (G3 Old Forester Mint Julep S.), Ticker Tape Home (G3 Seaway S.) and Kallos (G2 Rubiton S. in Australia).
