Turfway Park: Everland, Cellist win undercard’s graded stakes

Former $30,000 claim Everland made a strong rally along the rail to win Saturday in the 42nd running of the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, a listed stakes for Kentucky Oaks points at Turfway Park.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo for trainer Eric Foster, Everland earned 50 qualifying points for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks after completing 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta course in 1:44.36.

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Everland broke from the outside post 10 in but was able to get over to the two path midway around the first turn with her stablemate Maxisuperfly setting the early fractions. After an opening quarter-mile of 23.90 seconds, Everland was in sixth, about six lengths off the lead.

As Maxisuperfly completed a first half-mile in 47.98 seconds, she began to feel the pressure of favored Pink Polkadots to her outside with Winnable and jockey Colby Hernandez making a three-wide bid.

Around the turn, Cedillo shifted Everland to the rail at the same time as Winnable took command of the field. At the eighth pole, a host of rivals began to converge on Winnable, including Alpine Princess and Youknownothing to her outside and Everland at the rail.

In the final sixteenth of a mile, Everland began to spurt clear, defeating Winnable by 1 1/4 lengths.

Alpine Princess finished a half-length behind in third and was followed by Youknownothing, Movin’ On Up, Band of Gold, Trial, Maxisuperfly and Saratoga Secret.

Winnable banked 25 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks with Alpine Princess, Youknownothing and Movin’ On Up earning 15, 10 and five points, respectively.

An 11-1 long shot owned by Foster Family Racing, William Wargel, R.K. Ecrich Racing and Maxis Stable, Everland paid $2 mutuels of $24.10, $10.44 and $5.56. Winnable returned $10.36 and $7.40. Alpine Princess paid $3.80.

Everland is a 3-year-old daughter of Arrogate out of the Tapit mare Ever Changing. She was bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge Jr. She has earned 54 points toward the Kentucky Oaks after finishing fourth early this month in the Cincinnati Trophy.

Cellist cruises in Kentucky Cup Classic

Cellist strongly kicked clear of his accomplished 10 rivals to win the 24th running of the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (Grade 3) by 2 3/4 lengths.

Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Rusty Arnold, Cellist completed the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:49.33.

Owned by Calumet Farm, Cellist broke well from the gate and was positioned in fourth during the early stages of the race while traveling in the two path.

While Cellist settled off the lead, the pacemaker was 99-1 long shot Wentru, who sped a quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds. Favored Wolfie’s Dynaghost tracked the long-shot leader in second as the field moved up the backside, completing a first half-mile in 48.59 seconds. Saez kept Cellist to the outside of the pacemakers and improved his position to third as the field made their way past the half-mile pole.

Entering the far turn, Funtastic Again began to engage Wolfie’s Dynaghost while Wentru started to fade. Saez kept Cellist to the outside of the leaders, moving three wide around the far turn.

In the final eighth of a mile, Wolfie’s Dynaghost’s stride began to shorten, while Cellist’s began to lengthen. In deep stretch, Cellist powered past Funtastic Again to win his fourth start.

Atone, under jockey Javier Castellano, was able to nose out Funtastic Again in the photo for second. They were followed by Tio Magico, Harlan Estate, Surly Furious, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Kitodan, Verstappen, Wentru and Curlin’s Malibu.

“I didn’t want to hit the front too early, but I was travelling very well,” Saez said. “I kept him wide and in the clear the whole time, which I think he liked. I had a lot of horse beneath me in deep stretch, and he came home very well.”

The Kentucky Cup Classic was Cellist’s 21st career start and fourth victory. The 6-year-old gelded son of Big Blue Kitten earned $176,560 for his victory to improve his earnings to $838,582.

Sent off at odds of 6-1, Cellist rewarded his backers with mutuel prices of $14.78, $6.28 and $4.50. Atone paid $7.58 and $6.26. Funtastic Again returned $5.06.

Cellist was bred in Kentucky by his owner.