Turfway: Caitlinhergrtness wins 1st of 3 undercard stakes
Caitlinhergrtness rallied late to win Sunday's 37th running of the $219,000 My Charmer at Turfway Park.
The 4-year-old filly, owned by WinStar Farm, was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the field of eight fillies and mares. Flavien Prat rode her for trainer Kevin Attard. She completed the one-mile distance in 1:36.74.
Breaking from the inside post, Prat had Caitlinhergrtness forwardly positioned into the first turn as long shot Nanabush (ARG) took command through an opening quarter-mile in :24.36 seconds. As the field entered the backstretch, Caitlinhergrtness sat third at the rail, to the inside of She's Lookin Lucky, as the duo traveled a length behind Nanabush. Entering the far turn, 63-1 long shot Trial, with Irving Moncada in the saddle, loomed into contention in the three path, which forced Prat to go four-wide at the top of the lane. Inside the final eighth of a mile, Trial briefly took the lead, but Caitlinhergrtness found her best stride and powered clear for a 1 1/2-length victory.
Literate, who closed late up the rail, finished a neck behind Trial in third. She was followed by She's Lookin Lucky, Next Up, Nanabush, Vina Arana (IRE) and Queens Command (IRE).
Caitlinhergrtness paid $3.10 for the win. Trial returned $25.90 to place, and Literate, under Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $3.46 to show.
Caitlinhergrtness is a daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant's Causeway mare Belatrix. She was bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona.
With her victory in the My Charmer, Caitlinhergrtness became racing's newest millionaire with earnings of $1,071,569. Her overall record stands at 17: 6-4-2.
The My Charmer is part of the Claiborne Farm "Make Your Mare" series where the top three finishers receive stallion credits to the famed farm on a $10,000-$5,000-$2,500 scale.
Mink's Palace rallies from last to win Holiday Inaugural
Mink's Palace stormed down the center of the Turfway Park stretch to go from last to first in Sunday's 39th running of the $250,000 Holiday Inaugural.
Owned by Summerhill Stables, the 4-year-old filly was ridden by holiday meet leading jockey Walter Rodriguez for trainer Eddie Kenneally. She completed six furlongs in 1:09.48.
The pace was hot early in the Holiday Inaugural with a four-way battle for the lead between Ms. Tart at the rail, Ellen Jay in the two path, Lithe Spirit three wide and Civetta four wide. As the quartet blitzed through an opening quarter-mile in :21.93 seconds, Rodriguez and Mink's Palace continued to bide their time in eighth until they reached the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Ms. Tart and Ellen Jay attempted to kick clear of 3-2 favorite Pondering, who loomed large in third. Mink's Palace was fifth at the top of the stretch, but Rodriguez positioned her into the six-path and powered home late for a 2 1/4-length victory.
Pondering, under Irad Ortiz Jr., closed late to finish second, a neck in front of Ms. Tart. They were followed by Lithe Spirit, Ellen Jay, Civetta, Uphill Dance and Shezafunkydrummer.
Sent off at odds of 12-1, Mink's Palace returned $26.28.
Mink's Palace earned her connections $150,280 for the victory to boost her career total to $657,078. It was the fifth win of her 15-race career.
Mink's Palace is a daughter of Palace Malice out of the Scat Daddy mare Scattering Mink. She was bred by her owner.
The Holiday Inaugural is part of the Claiborne Farm "Make Your Mare" series where the top three finishers receive stallion credits to the famed farm on a $10,000-$5,000-$2,500 scale.
On Thursday, the American Graded Stakes Committee notified Turfway Park that starting in 2026, the Holiday Inaugural will be upgraded to a listed stakes.
Joe Shiesty turns back Howard Wolowitz to win Holiday Cheer
Joe Shiesty turned back heavy favorite Howard Wolowitz to go gate-to-wire in Sunday's 30th running of the $247,835 Holiday Cheer at Turfway Park.
Owned by Foster Family Racing, Lonnie Reynolds, Vicki Mills and Donald Coomes, the now three-time winner over the synthetic surface at Turfway was ridden to victory by Fernando De La Cruz for trainer Eric Foster. He completed six furlongs in 1:09.05.
Out of the starting gate, Joe Shiesty blasted to the early lead, which forced Irad Ortiz Jr. to stalk in second aboard 1-5 favorite Howard Wolowitz. After a quarter-mile in :22.37 seconds and a half-mile in :45.18 seconds, Howard Wolowitz engaged Joe Shiesty to his outside and battled the entire length of the Turfway Park stretch but was held at bay by a head.
It was 2 3/4 lengths back to Script in third. He was followed by Lofty Adjudicator, Out On Bail, Lucky Score, Incinerator and Run Curtis Run.
Those who backed Joe Shiesty were rewarded with a $2 mutuel payout of $21.08.
The Holiday Cheer was the sixth overall victory for Joe Shiesty. The win earned his connections $150,280 to improve his overall total to $745,217.
Joe Shiesty is a 4-year-old gelded son of Air Force Blue out of the More Than Ready mare Ready to Unleash. He was bred in Kentucky by Rodney Orr.