Map of the Moon 3-for-3 after Gowell Stakes

Jan 2, 2026 Jennie Rees No Comments

Turfway Park press release by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of Map of the Moon winning the Gowell Stakes under Adam Beschizza)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026) – NBS Stable’s Map of the Moon kept her unbeaten streak intact when she reeled in longshot Gianna to win Thursday night’s 32^nd running of the $125,000 Gowell Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

*Kelly Danner and part of her Turfway Park-based crew with unbeaten Map of the Moon. Coady Media*

Now a perfect 3-for-3, Map of the Moon was ridden to victory by Adam Beschizza for trainer Kelsey Danner.

Out of the starting gate, Sassy C W burst clear of her rivals by 8 ½ lengths through a sharp quarter-mile in :21.24 but as the field reached the quarter-pole, her lead began to diminish as she was tackled first to her outside by 15-1 longshot Gianna. As Gianna tried to kick clear to the wire, Beschizza tipped Map of the Moon from the rail to the four path and inside the final furlong spurted clear for a 1 ¾-length victory while completing six furlongs in 1:12.10.

*Map of the Moon taking command in mid-stretch of the Gowell. Coady Media*

Folk Song rallied late up the inside to finish third. She was followed by Mia’s Go, Pure Eloquence, Supersonic Agenda and Sassy C W.

Sent off at even-money, Map of the Moon returned $4.04. A 3-year-old dark bay or brown filly by Liam’s Map, Map of the Moon is out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Pride. She was bred in Kentucky by Silesia Farm & Dr. Hartmut H Malluche and was purchased for $200,000 at Keeneland’s 2024 September yearling sale by major Danner client John Ballantyne/NBS Stable.

The Gowell Stakes victory was worth $75,760 to improve Map of the Moon’s overall earnings to $221,345. She won her debut at Keeneland at 9-1 odds, followed by New York’s Stewart Manor at almost 11-1, with both races on turf.

Live racing will resume Friday at Turfway Park with a first post of 5:55 p.m. For dining reservations and more information, visit www.turfway.com.

DEBUT WINNER HOMETOWN BOUND SLATED AS 2-1 FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S $125,000 TURFWAY PREVUE – Colts Neck Stables’ debut winner Hometown Bound is set to face six newly-turned 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s 31^st running of the $125,000 Turfway Prevue at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

The Turfway Prevue, run at 6 ½ furlongs, is the featured event on Saturday’s nine-race card and will go as Race 6 at 8:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.

Trained by Jorge Duarte Jr., Hometown Bound was a winner at first asking on Nov. 8 at Laurel while upsetting a field of 10 2-year-olds by three lengths at odds of 7-1. A gray son of Mitole, Hometown Bound shipped to Turfway Park in early December from his owner’s New Jersey-based training center. Since then, he’s recorded three local works including a bullet five-furlong move in 1:00.40 on Dec. 20, the fastest of 70 recorded works at the distance. Jockey Victor Carrasco will have the riding assignment from post No. 5.

Saturday’s field also includes several horses will stakes experience including Midway Racing’s Hickory Tree Stakes winner Trendsetter; Rivera Racing Stables’ Display Stakes (Listed) winner Jupiter; Ken Ramsey’s Pulpit Stakes (Listed) fourth-place finisher Shipmate and Calumet Farm’s Maryland Juvenile fourth-place finisher Sometime.

The field for the Turfway Prevue from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):