Turfway: Undefeated Earhart heads rescheduled Likely Exchange
Turfway Park stakes advances by publicist Kevin Kerstein/Coady Media photo of Everland winning last year’s Bourbonette Oaks (G3)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Friday, Jan. 17, 2025) – LNJ Foxwoods’ undefeated 4-year-old filly Earhart (FR) will take her first step into stakes company in next Friday’s rescheduled $125,000 Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, the final race in the Claiborne Farm “Make Your Mare Series.”
Trained by Josie Carroll, Earhart has dazzled in her two career starts at Woodbine, beginning with a 6 ¾-length maiden victory, followed by an 11-length romp against first-level allowance company. Luis Contreras will guide the 4-year-old daughter of Siyouni (FR) from post No. 3.
The Likely Exchange Stakes also features proven talent, including Bourbonette Oaks (GIII) winner Everland, accomplished Argentinian Group I winner Neverwalkalone, Grade III winner Mohawk Trail and recent maiden special weight standout She’s Fancy.
Likely Exchange field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
- Peak Popularity (Gabe Saez, Brittany Vanden Berg)
- Queen Leca (URU) (Albin Jiminez, Paulo Lobo)
- Earhart (FR) (Contreras, Carroll)
- She’s Fancy (Sophie Doyle, Chris Davis)
- Mohawk Trail (Gerardo Corrales, Kelsey Danner)
- Neveralkalone (BRZ) (Evin Roman, Paulo Lobo)
- Everland (Abel Cedillo, Eric Foster)
- Hurry Up Hannah (Luan Machado, Doug Cowans)
- Always Wanting (Fernando De La Cruz, Michelle Elliott)
- Pendulum (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh)
- Stay Lost (Yarmarie Correa, Jim Corrigan)
The one-mile contest goes as Race 6 on the 10-race program at 8:25 p.m. (all times Eastern), first post is 5:55 p.m. Originally scheduled for last Saturday, the race was postponed due to inclement weather.
As the concluding event in the Claiborne Farm “Make Your Mare Series,” the top three finishers in the Likely Exchange Stakes will earn stallion credits to the famed breeding operation – $10,000 for first, $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third.
For more information about racing and gaming at Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
BANKS TABBED AS 2-1 FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S LEONATUS STAKES – The Road to the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) begins Saturday at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming with the 35th running of the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes. The one-mile contest features recent impressive allowance winner Banks, who will face seven budding 3-year-olds in his stakes debut as the solid 2-1 morning line choice.
Carded as Race 6 of 10 at 8:25 p.m. (all times Eastern), the Leonatus Stakes serves as the local prep for the Feb. 22 $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed), part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season. It also leads to the March 22 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a Championship Series contest on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. First post for Saturday’s program is 5:55 p.m.
Owned by Tom Lambro and trained by Joe Sharp, Banks has excelled over Turfway’s Tapeta surface, breaking his maiden Dec. 5 in a restricted maiden special weight and returning three weeks later to defeat nine rivals in a first-level allowance contest. The son of Outwork will be ridden by Adam Beschizza from post No. 4.
Among Banks’ seven rivals is the undefeated Church and State, owned by Centennial Farms – Niagara and trained by Dale Desruisseaux. The son of Caravaggio is 2-for-2 in Canada, with victories in a Nov. 15 maiden special weight and a Dec. 6 first-level allowance. Jockey Rafael Hernandez, who guided him in both Canadian victories, retains the mount from post 7.
The field for the Leonatus Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Chunk of Gold (Luan Machado, Ethan West, 6-1)
- Baby Max (Abel Cedillo, Kelsey Danner, 12-1)
- Up to No Good (Santo Sanjur, Keith Kinmon, 15-1)
- Banks (Beschizza, Sharp, 2-1)
- Shan (Albin Jiminez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
- Can’t Deny It (Gerardo Corrales, Larry Rivelli, 5-2)
- Church and State (Hernandez, Desruisseaux, 3-1)
- Hard as Life (Walter Rodriguez, Michelle Nihei, 10-1)
For the latest information about racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
FINAL FLORENCE FURLONG – Jockey Gerardo Corrales entered Friday’s card needing one win to reach 1,000 career victories. He has mounts in Races 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. … A mid-card Pick 4 has been added to all 10-race programs, spanning Races 4-7. The 50-cent wager features a low 14% takeout. … The 20-cent Jackpot Pick 6 has grown to $69,368 for Friday night’s card and covers Races 5-10. Additionally, there is a $17,257 carryover in the Super Hi-5 in Race 10. … Apprentice jockey Irving Moncada holds a 12-9 lead over Luan Machado in the Winter/Spring Meet standings. In the trainers’ standings, John Ennis is tied with 2024 Holiday Meet leading trainer Mike Maker, with four wins each. Paul Aguirre is the only owner with multiple wins, with two. … For the latest updates on racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
