Turfway ushers in New Year’s with “Grace”
Turfway Park press release by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/Sammantha Pagels photo of Grace On Grace’s Gowell victory)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025) – Francetta Allen’s Grace On Grace surged down the stretch under jockey Fernando De La Cruz to score a 10-1 upset in Wednesday’s $110,000 Gowell Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, the featured event on the New Year’s Day program.
Grace On Grace is Lexington-based trainer Larry Demeritte‘s latest bargain purchase to win a stakes, costing $2,500 at Keeneland’s 2023 yearling sale.
After a clean break, Grace On Grace settled in fifth up the backstretch, sitting about two lengths behind even-money favorite My Lil Punky, who was pressed by 11-1 longshot Wisconsin Gal to her outside. De La Cruz patiently tracked the battling leaders around the far turn before angling Grace On Grace three wide at the top of the stretch.
As the pacesetters began to tire, Grace On Grace surged past them mid-stretch and held off a late charge fromLes Is Best, who rallied from last, to secure the victory by three-quarters of a length.
Grace On Grace completed the six-furlong race in 1:12.16.
Grace On Grace returned $23.02, $9.30 and $3.48. Runner-up Les Is Best, ridden by Luan Machado, paid $5.44 and $3.66. Favored My Lil Punky settled for third and returned $2.28 to show.
The field was rounded out by She’s All Charm, Wisconsin Gal and Keyana.
The win was the second of Grace On Grace’s nine-race career and earned her $61,380, boosting her lifetime earnings to $123,641. The newly turned 3-year-old filly was bred in Kentucky by Southern Comfort Farm.
Racing resumes Thursday through Saturday at Turfway Park, with daily first posts of 5:55 p.m. ET.
