Highway Robber took the lead in the stretch and turned back a bid from Siege of Boston to win the $300,000 KY Downs Preview Turf Cup by a length at Ellis Park on Sunday, 4 Aug.
The four-year-old gelding provided his sire, Hard Spun, with his second Stakes winner of the afternoon, following the earlier victory of Give It a Whirl in the Bald Eagle Derby at Laurel Park.
Confidently ridden by jockey Jareth Loveberry, Highway Robber was settled well off the pace in sixth as Uncle Jake and What Say Thee vied for the early lead. Highway Robber began his rally entering the far turn, rapidly making up ground on the leaders while racing between horses. Swung four-wide at the top of the stretch, Highway Robber took a slight lead with a furlong to run. Challenged in the stretch by Siege of Boston, he was able to put that one away nearing the wire to win by a length.
Bred in Kentucky by Foxpointe Thoroughbreds, Highway Robber was purchased by Jim and Susan Hill out of the 2022 OBS April Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. The chestnut gelding is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare, Yabba, and hails from the family of Stakes winners See The Wind and Fly Smartly.
In addition to Highway Robber and Give It a Whirl, Hard Spun is also the sire of Sparkle Blue, winner of both the G3 Hillsborough Stakes and Big Dreyfus Stakes in 2024; Necker Island, winner of the Iowa Sprint Stakes; Good Lord Lorrie (Woodhaven Stakes); Informed Patriot, Kupuna and Drum Roll Please.
