Bourbon Memory edges Family in Serena's Song Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
Bourbon Memory edged Family by a head following a stretchlong duel, and remained unbeaten with a victory in the $125,000 Serena's Song Stakes for 3-year-old fillies sprinting on Saturday at Turfway Park.
The race was the closing-night feature at Turfway.
Family, a sharp Turfway debut winner three weeks ago, broke well from the rail. She had her head in front through a sharp opening quarter of 21.87 seconds while pressed by Long Neck Paula on her outside. The latter, a multiple stakes winner as a 2-year-old, was making her first start in five months.
Long Neck Paula, who was sent away favored, quickly folded, perhaps needing the race. But Family wasn't left alone, as Bourbon Memory ($8), third through that opening quarter, quickly moved up to challenge nearing the quarter pole. The two battled the length of the stretch, with Family and Walter Rodriguez edging clear by as much as half a length; however, a resurgent Bourbon Memory, with Gerardo Gorrales in the irons, had her head in front at the wire.
The time for the six furlongs on Tapeta was 1:10.17.
After the top two, it was 5 3/4 lengths back to Hollygrove, winner of the Valdale Stakes at this meet. They were followed, in order, by Brindi, Bilyana, Long Neck Paula, and Grace On Grace.
Bourbon Memory is trained by Brendan Walsh for Bourbon Lane Stable, Seidman Stables, All My Hart Racing, Fergus Galvin, and Carl Barry. The Bolt d'Oro filly won her debut in December in a Turfway maiden special weight, and has continued on a tear through the track's season, graduating to win in starter allowance company, allowance-optional claiming company, and finally, her stakes debut to remain unbeaten.
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