Peek at Turfway’s Synthetic Championship Night
Turfway Park stakes advances by Kevin Kerstein (Wadsworth, shown winning the American Derby) by Coady Media)
MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER WADSWORTH RETURNS IN $250,000 PRAIRIE BAYOU ON SYNTHETIC CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024) – Godolphin’s multiple stakes winner Wadsworth returns to Turfway Park Racing & Gaming to take on 11 rivals in next Saturday’s 29th running of the $250,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes (Listed), one of four stakes contests as part of the inaugural Synthetic Championships.
Run at 1 1/16-mile, the Prairie Bayou shares the Saturday spotlight with the $250,000 Holiday Cheer, $250,000 Holiday Inaugural, and $250,000 My Charmer. First post for the evening’s tremendous nine-race card is 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern), with the Prairie Bayou scheduled as Race 6 at 8:49 p.m.
Wadsworth, a 4-year-old son of Quality Road trained by Brad Cox, returns to the synthetic surface where he made his mark with a dominant 10-length maiden-breaking victory on New Year’s Eve 2022 and a 2 ½ length allowance win on Feb. 11, 2023. The gelding’s standout 3-year-old season included a victory in the American Derby (Listed) and a close second in the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs. After a 14-month layoff, Wadsworth returned to finish a strong second to Chasing the Crown in a Churchill Downs allowance race last month. Jockey Florent Geroux will ride Wadsworth from post No. 7.
Dresden Row, owned by Bloom Racing and True North Stable, brings a proven synthetic record to the Prairie Bayou. Trained by Lorne Richards, the 3-year-old colt has excelled at Woodbine with victories in the Ontario Derby (GIII) and Durham Cup (GIII). Jockey Martin Garcia will have the riding assignment from post 6.
Another accomplished horse entered in the Prairie Bayou is C R K Stable’s Grade I winner Exaulted. Trained by Peter Eurton, Exaulted won the 2023 Shoemaker Mile (GI) on turf at Santa Anita, which was one of four victories in his 6-year-old season. He’ll be ridden by Abel Cedillo out of post 2.
Turfway Park fan favorite Hush of a Storm is back for his third attempt at Prairie Bayou glory after finishing third in the past two editions. The 6-year-old son of Creative Cause, claimed by Cox for $45,000 in July, boasts a strong local resume, including four Turfway wins highlighted by the 2021 John Battaglia Memorial. Owned by Sanford Goldfarb, Hush of a Storm will break from the rail under jockey Luan Machado.
Field for the Prairie Bayou in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):
- Hush of a Storm (Machado, Cox)
- Exaulted (Cedillo, Eurton)
- Money Supply (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp)
- Hidden Stash (Luis Contreras, Vicki Oliver)
- Stilleto Boy (Albin Jiminez, Ed Moger Jr.)
- Dresden Row (Garcia, Richards)
- Wadsworth (Geroux, Cox)
- Noises Off (Evin Roman, Paulo Lobo)
- Paros (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
- Wonderful Justice (Emisael Jaramillo, Joe Sharp)
- Big Blue Line (Joe Ramos, Will Walden)
- Midnight West (Alberto Burgos, Tomas Medina)
- AE: Tremor (Fernando De La Cruz, Michelle Elliott)
- AE: Prince of Power (Santo Sanjur, Jesus Esquivel)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action at TwinSpires.com, which will also host the Turfway Park Handicapping Championship featuring $10,000 in prizes and seats to the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge. Registration and details are available at TwinSpires.com/tournaments.
Horseplayers will have an opportunity to wager on a special all-stakes Pick 4 added to Saturday’s card, spanning the Synthetic Championship in Races 4-7. The Pick 4 features a low 14% takeout.
Live coverage of the Synthetic Championships will air on FanDuel TV with on-site reports and interviews from Matt Carrothers and Gabby Gaudet.
For more information, visit Turfway.com.
GRADE I WINNER HOWARD WOLOWITZ HEADLINES HOLIDAY CHEER STAKES – Gold Square’s Howard Wolowitz, a Grade I winner on turf, returns to the all-weather surface in next Saturday’s 29th running of the $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes (Listed), part of the inaugural Synthetic Championships at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
The six-furlong contest is carded as Race 7 at 9:27 p.m. and is one of four stakes races on Synthetic Championship Night, which features $1 million in combined purses. Along with the Holiday Cheer, the night includes the $250,000 Prairie Bayou, $250,000 Holiday Inaugural and $250,000 My Charmer. First post is 5:55 p.m.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Howard Wolowitz captured the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (GI) at Kentucky Downs in September with a one-length victory. Earlier in his career, the son of Munnings delivered a dominant 7 ¾-length maiden-breaking win over the all-weather track at Gulfstream Park. The talented Florida-based 3-year-old will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo from the rail.
One of the most accomplished synthetic specialists entered in the Holiday Cheer is Frank Di Giulio Jr.’s multiple graded stakes winner Patches O’Houlihan. Based in Canada with trainer Robert Tiller, Patches O’Houlihan boasts victories in the Nearctic (GII) and back-to-back wins in the Vigil (GIII) and Bold Venture (GIII) over Woodbine’s synthetic surface. Jockey Sophia Vives will travel to Turfway Park for the mount and break from post 12.
Other accomplished horses entered in the Holiday Cheer include Exline-Border Racing’s Grade II winner Dream Shake; Patricia’s Hope and Richard Ravin’s five-time stakes winner One Timer and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski’s Belmont Turf Sprint (GIII) winner Senbei.
Field for the Holiday Cheer in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):
- Howard Wolowitz (Jaramillo, D’Angelo)
- Mo Stash (Luan Machado, Vicki Oliver)
- Run Carson (Luis Saez, Kelsey Danner)
- Demolition Duke (Edgar Morales, Brendan Walsh)
- Night Time (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg)
- Senbei (Vincent Cheminaud, Christophe Clement)
- Manny Wah (Corey Lanerie, John Ennis)
- One Timer (E.T. Baird, Larry Rivelli)
- Field Day (Alberto Burgos, Randy Klopp)
- Dream Shake (Abel Cedillo, Peter Eurton)
- Dude N Colorado (GB) (Fernando De La Cruz, Mike Maker)
- AE: Let’s Go Mark (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis)
- AE: Shefflin (Gerardo Corrales, Bill Morey)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action at TwinSpires.com, which will also host the Turfway Park Handicapping Championship, featuring $10,000 in prizes and seats to the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge. Registration and details are available at TwinSpires.com/tournaments.
Live, on-site coverage of the Synthetic Championships will air on FanDuel TV.
For more information, visit Turfway.com.
TAPETA SPECIALIST NICE AS PIE RETURNS TO TURFWAY PARK FOR HOLIDAY INAUGURAL – Nice as Pie, undefeated over Turfway Park’s Tapeta surface, returns to her home track to headline next Saturday’s 38thrunning of the $250,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes on Synthetic Championship Night.
The six-furlong event is one of four stakes on the Saturday evening card, which features a combined $1 million in purses. Run as Race 5 at 8:11 p.m., the Holiday Inaugural shares the Saturday program with the $250,000 Prairie Bayou (Listed), $250,000 Holiday Cheer and $250,000 My Charmer. First post is 5:55 p.m.
Nice as Pie, a homebred for Dede McGehee trained by Kelsey Danner, was a standout at Turfway Park last season, winning all four starts, including a 2 ¼-length triumph in the Valdale Stakes and a dominant six-length score in the Serena’s Song Stakes on closing night of the Winter/Spring Meet. While the filly hasn’t found the winner’s circle since her Serena’s Song victory, she earned a gutsy runner-up finish in the Penn Oaks behind Poolside With Slim on the turf. Jockey Luis Saez will ride from post No. 6.
The field for the Holiday Inaugural also features Love Appeals, a multiple stakes-winning filly owned by Moyglare Stud Farm. Trained by Christophe Clement, Love Appeals has five wins from 13 lifetime starts, including victories in the Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct and the Invincible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth Park. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud will guide Love Appeals from post 11.
Accomplished Canadian runners add depth to the lineup. A Game, a 48-1 shock winner of the Ontario Fashion Stakes (GIII), and Love to Shop, winner of the Toronto Cup who has never finished off the board in 10 career starts, are among the top contenders based north of the boarder.
Synthetic specialist B G Warrior is back for the Holiday Inaugural after finishing a close second last year to Marissa’s Lady. Owned by Hat Creek Racing and trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the speedy B G Warrior is a three-time stakes winner over the Tapeta at Turfway Park with victories in the Valdale Stakes, Wishing Well Stakes and Queen Stakes. The 4-year-old filly by Run Away and Hide was previously campaigned by owner Keith Grass and trainer Hugo Andrade prior to her recent $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She’ll break from post 8 under Florent Geroux.
The field for the Holiday Inaugural in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):
- Miss Arlington (Corey Lanerie, Brian Willaimson)
- Beauty of the Sea (Fernando De La Cruz, Joe Orseno)
- Baby No Worries (Abel Cedillo, Tim Girten)
- Sunday Shoes (Gerardo Corrales, Wesley Ward)
- Upper Case (Evin Roman, Paulo Lobo)
- Nice as Pie (Saez, Danner)
- A Game (Fraser Aebly, Josie Carroll)
- B G Warrior (Geroux, Brisset)
- Bling (Luis Contreras, Vicki Oliver)
- Awesome Treat (Sophie Doyle, Justin Wojczynski)
- Love Appeals (Cheminaud, Clement)
- Love to Shop (Luan Machado, Kevin Attard)
- AE: Laura’s Charm (Alex Achard, Lacy Pierce)
- AE: Night Kiss (Santo Sanjur, Tomas Medina
Turfway Park will once again partner with Claiborne Farm for the “Make Your Mare” series, following its successful debut last season. This three-race series offers fillies and mares the chance to earn future stallion credits as they compete in select stakes races. The top three finishers in each of the Holiday Inaugural will receive Claiborne Credits of $10,000 for first, $5,000 for second, and $2,500 for third, which can be applied toward future stallion fees at the legendary farm.
Fans can watch and wager on all the action at TwinSpires.com and tune into FanDuel TV for live coverage of Synthetic Championship Night. For more details, visit Turfway.com.
CLAIMING CROWN WINNER GHOSTLY GAL HEADLINES MY CHARMER STAKES – Ghostly Gal, winner of last month’s Claiming Crown Tiara at Churchill Downs, headlines a competitive field of 11 fillies and mares entered in next Saturday’s 36th running of the $250,000 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, one of four stakes contests on Synthetic Championship night.
The 1 1/16-mile contest is scheduled to go as Race 4 with a post time of 7:33 p.m. First post for the nine-race program is 5:55 p.m. which also includes the $250,000 Prairie Bayou (Listed), $250,000 Holiday Cheer and $250,000 Holiday Inaugural.
Owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trained by Wayne Catalano, Ghostly Gal enters off a gutsy victory over Dana’s Beauty in the Claiming Crown Tiara. The 6-year-old mare has been a model of consistency, compiling a record of 15-6-2-3 and earning $233,890 in purses. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud, who piloted Ghostly Gal in her Claiming Crown triumph, will have the return call from post 7.
Resolute Racing’s Dana’s Beauty will attempt to avenge her defeat to Ghostly Gal in the My Charmer. Trained by Mike Maker, Dana’s Beauty is a 10-time winner from 42 starts including two victories at Turfway Park including last year’s Latonia Stakes. Churchill Downs’ Fall Meet leading rider Luis Saez will be in town for the mount from post 4.
Locally based Everland will look to recapture her spring form in Saturday’s My Charmer Stakes. Owned byFoster Family Racing, William Wargel, R.K. Eckrich Racing and Maxis Stable, the 3-year-old filly last found the winner’s circle in the Bourbonette Oaks during Turfway Park’s Winter/Spring Meet. Trained by Eric Foster, Everland has excelled at Turfway Park with three wins from five starts over the Tapeta surface. The My Charmer marks her first return to the Florence oval since her Bourbonette victory. Jockey Abel Cedillo will ride from post 5.
Field for the My Charmer in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):
- Breezing Along (Evin Roman, Anna Meah)
- Forever Dixie (Luan Machado, Mark Casse)
- Catmint (Fernando De La Cruz, Rick Hiles)
- Dana’s Beauty (Saez, Maker)
- Everland (Cedillo, Foster)
- Cozee Rags (Albin Jiminez, Brian Michael)
- Ghostly Gal (Cheminaud, Catalano)
- Take a Stand (Luis Contreras, Vicki Oliver)
- Smokin Hot Blonde (Edgar Morales, James Kelly)
- Here’s the Spider (Florent Geroux, Ed Fernandez)
- Canisy (Corey Lanerie, Arnaud Delacour)
Turfway Park will once again partner with Claiborne Farm for the “Make Your Mare” series, following its successful debut last season. This three-race series offers fillies and mares the chance to earn future stallion credits as they compete in select stakes races. The top three finishers in each of the My Charmer Stakes will receive Claiborne Credits of $10,000 for first, $5,000 for second, and $2,500 for third, which can be applied toward future stallion fees at the legendary farm.
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Synthetic Championship Night via TwinSpires.com and tune into FanDuel TV for live, on-site coverage.
For more information, visit Turfway.com.
