POSSIBLEMENTE - Photo: Carson Blevins for Agentes 305
T and E Racing’s Possiblemente delivered another major performance Saturday at Kentucky Downs, capturing the Grade 2, $1.75 million Light And Wonder Turf Sprint and securing an automatic berth in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.
The six-furlong contest was the first of five graded stakes on opening day of the U.S. Open of Turf Championships, and Possiblemente made the most of the opportunity, adding a second graded stakes victory to what has become a breakthrough 2026 campaign.
With Jose Ortiz aboard, Possiblemente broke sharply from post 6 and settled into a stalking position just behind Mondogetsbuckets, who established quick opening fractions of :22.00 for the quarter-mile and :43.83 for the half over the firm Kentucky Downs turf.
As the field approached the stretch, Possiblemente moved alongside the leader and the pair briefly battled for command. Possiblemente eventually gained the upper hand, but Golden Afternoon, runner-up in last year’s Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson, emerged with a late challenge.
The rally was not enough.
Possiblemente maintained his advantage through the final yards and crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:09.28. Golden Afternoon secured second, another 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Mondogetsbuckets in third.
We’re in Trouble, Okiro, My Boy Prince, John the Beer Man, Let My People Go, Beach Gold, Usually Wrong and Durante completed the order of finish. Troubleshooting, Quereme Pass and also-eligible Anmer Hall were scratched.
A change in distance transforms Possiblemente
The victory continued a remarkable turnaround for Possiblemente since joining the barn of trainer Joe Sharp at the beginning of the year.
Previously campaigned primarily around two turns in Canada, the Kentucky-bred has found a new dimension since Sharp elected to shorten him up and focus on sprint races.
“He’s one of those horses who would always been keen on the lead, and we decided to cut him back in distance and it’s just made all the difference for him,” Sharp said.
That decision produced immediate results.
Possiblemente earned his first graded stakes victory in May when taking the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier at six furlongs over Woodbine’s all-weather surface. He then traveled to Saratoga, where he finished second in the Harvey Pack on July 5.
Rather than returning quickly in the Grade 2 Troy at Saratoga on August 9, Sharp and the connections elected to wait for Kentucky Downs.
“We liked him a lot. We opted to skip the Troy after the Harvey Pack because he had run every 4-5 weeks,” Sharp explained. “I told the owners I wanted to be able to come into this race fresh, and we did it. Love it when a plan comes together.”
It certainly did.
Jose Ortiz shines at Kentucky Downs
The Light And Wonder Turf Sprint victory was also part of a huge afternoon for Jose Ortiz, who made his fourth visit to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
A two-time leading rider at Kentucky Downs, Ortiz arrived in Franklin after another highly successful Saratoga meet and wasted little time making his presence felt.
“I love Kentucky Downs,” Ortiz said. “Obviously, I was having a great meet at Saratoga, but here we have a couple horses as well, so I decided to move here.”
Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup are now within reach
Most importantly, Saturday’s victory changed the immediate outlook for Possiblemente.
With the Light And Wonder Turf Sprint providing an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Sharp and T and E Racing now have a clear path toward the World Championships at Keeneland.
“I told the owners after Woodbine that in order to target the Breeders’ Cup, there would have to be a few races that hit right. And it did,” Sharp said.
Now they have.
Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, Possiblemente earned a massive $1,018,675 for Saturday’s victory, pushing his career earnings to $1,525,023.
The veteran runner now owns a record of 11 wins, eight seconds and four thirds from 34 career starts.
More importantly, a horse who began the season looking for a new direction has found his specialty.
And that road now leads directly to Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 31.
About The Author
