It’s Turfway Park’s big day and they have races that will help to determine who gets to head to the gate for the Kentucky Oaks and Derby. The fillies will race a mile and a sixteenth and the boys will go a mile and an eighth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (yes, that’s spelled right).
For those that are here for the first time or are unfamiliar with Turfway Park, they have a synthetic racing surface which neutralizes horses who are bred for the dirt and those on the turf. So as expected, we have an interesting field of 12 who have run on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces.
Turfway Park Race 11 – Bourbonette Oaks
A field of 12 three-year-old fillies are entered this afternoon with the hopes of getting a chance to run in the Kentucky Oaks. Note that the 7 Maximum Offer will be scratched here. She is cross entered in the Fair Grounds Oaks and will run there.
Favored in the Bourbonette Oaks is the 5 Scratch It (7/2 morning line). She returns after a five-month layoff last racing in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita, where she was wide but closed but could not get to the winner. She wintered in Florida getting ready for today and will be closing late in this race.
The 1 Resplendence (5/1 ML) won the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes last month here at Turfway. Both wins have been on the front end, and her lone race on regular did was the same modus operandi at Horseshoe Indianapolis in November. She draws the rail and has the potential to go gate to wire here this afternoon.
The 9 Lovely Gray (6/1 ML) was second best in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway last month and gained while wide on the final turn. She has run well in her two synthetic races here at Turfway and could be making a move just like last month.
The 10 La Ville Lumiere (4/1 ML) comes in from Santa Anita where she had some issues early as she raced down the hill in a stakes at Santa Anita. She stretches back out here and should enjoy the added ground like she did at Santa Anita in December. It is possible she stalks, but she can be closing as well.
Joe’s Bourbonette Oaks Pick
Lone speed can be dangerous, especially when you have a horse that has been along on the lead the last two times out. Resplendence may not be challenged early, and if that is the case here this afternoon, which I think happens, she wins.
I’m calling this race 1-10-5-9 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Turfway Park Race 12 – Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3)
Like the Bourbonette Oaks, we have a field of 12 entered in this 100-point race to the winner. But in this race, the boys will go a mile and an eighth for the points and a berth in the Kentucky Derby.
Favored in the Jeff Ruby is the 11 Stark Contrast (5/2 ML). He races for the first time since January since winning the Eddie Logan Stakes on the grass at Santa Anita. He loves the mile distance, winning three times on the lawn and a close second against some of the toughest juveniles in the world in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on the grass on Halloween. He could be closer to the pace like last time out or look to close. The outside post does complicate things here.
The 2 Fulleffort (7/2 ML) just missed in the Battaglia Memorial last month here at Turfway losing by a neck. He is a stone cold closer and rallied despite being very wide on the final turn. He draws inside, but I would not be surprised that he tips out wide and closes here.
The 6 Medici (6/1 ML) got nailed at the wire in the Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita last month trying to go gate to wire. He could be on the lead here today, but there is no real standout horse that will want the lead here this afternoon.
The 12 Stop the Car (20/1 ML) is on the far outside here and should benefit from a pair of workouts over the track. If he runs like he did in his debut at Keeneland (outfinishing Bleacher Brothers horse The Town), then he will have a shot. But the post is problematic.
Joe’s Jeff Ruby Steaks Pick
I am not expecting a fast pace but I am expecting a mad dash to the finish here today. Fulleffortappears to have the strongest kick in this group and I think he gets up late to win this race and head to the Kentucky Derby.
I’m calling this race 2-6-11-12 and my play is $20 to win on the 2. I’ll also play a $20 double starting with the Bourbonette Oaks of 1 with 2 for $20 at well. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
