Turfway: Encino much the best in Sunday's Prairie Bayou

Encino seized control from the break and never looked back, powering to a gate-to-wire victory in Sunday's 30th running of the $247,250 Prairie Bayou Stakes on Synthetic Championships Day at Turfway Park.

The Prairie Bayou was Encino's seventh career victory and third win over the synthetic surface at Turfway. He was ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Brad Cox.

Prat hustled Encino from post 8 of 9 to establish position into the first turn. He set an opening quarter-mile in 24.33 seconds and half-mile in 47.95 seconds. Around the far turn, Horsepower, who was tracking a length behind Encino in second, attempted to cut into his lead but could not make up enough ground and finished 1 1/2 lengths behind.

"He's a very classy horse and clearly loves this racetrack," Cox's local assistant Trace Messina said. "It's a quick run into the turn but Flavien did a great job to get from the outside to the rail. You could tell he was traveling very well the entire time."

Cameo Performance, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, finished third. He was followed by Naptown, Wagstaff, Best Actor, Otago, Chiron and Surly Furious.

Encino, owned by Godolphin, earned $149,040 for his victory in the Prairie Bayou to boost his career earnings to $801,710. A 4-year-old son of Nyquist, he is out of the Bernardini mare Glittering Jewel and was bred in Kentucky by his owner.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Encino returned $3.36.