3-year-olds have chance to topple elders in Catlaunch Stakes

The field of eight for the $75,000 Catlaunch Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Thistledown includes a formidable trio of older horses in multiple stakes winners Eightthehardway, Leona’s Reward, and True Cinder. But the rest of the field is made up of 3-year-olds who have put together summer campaigns – and the time may be right for them to step up in this 1 1/16-mile race.

Among them, Eightthehardway, Leona’s Reward, and True Cinder have won or placed in 37 stakes while earning more than $1.3 million. They’ve accounted for the last two editions of the Catlaunch, with Eightthehardway winning the 2016 renewal and Leona’s Reward edging True Cinder by a half-length last year.

However, all three are looking to rebound from a loss. Eightthehardway, who is trained by Glenroy Brown, won the George Lewis Memorial Stakes in June, but finished fourth in both subsequent outings.

Leona’s Reward, owned and trained by Tim Hamm, won three straight stakes earlier this year – getting the better of rival True Cinder, who defeated her several times in 2017 – but has finished second or third in stakes in her four starts since.

True Cinder, owned and trained by Mike Rone, won back-to-back stakes by open lengths during the summer, but was seventh on turf in the Vivacious Handicap last month, her first finish out of the top three since she was fourth in her debut in July 2016.

With the older horses seemingly vulnerable, the 3-year-olds in this field may have a prime opportunity to step up and make a statement.

Mobil Solution won the 1 1/16-mile Horizon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belterra on Aug. 12. That race was taken off the turf and run on the main track. He has been competing creditably against older runners for most of the season, having finished second to Eightthehardway in the Lewis Memorial and then second to True Cinder in the Buckeye Native Stakes. Leona’s Reward was third in the Buckeye Native.

Rosco P. Coltrane finished second in the Horizon Stakes, then blitzed the field by 13 1/4 lengths in a one-mile allowance race at Belterra.

The filly Birdacious has only a maiden win from eight starts, but has finished second or third in three stakes. Most recently she was third in the Miss Southern Ohio on the turf at Belterra behind Hopes Frog Song and Leona’s Reward.

Funnel Cake drew the rail as he stretches out off a sprint allowance win at Thistledown. Maiden winner Kalydar completes the field.