Bourne in Nixa likes Gazebo's one turn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bourne in Nixa cut back to one turn and returned to the winner’s circle Saturday at Oaklawn, where he closed through the stretch to upset 2-5 favorite Mitole in the $125,000 Gazebo.

Mitole, who stumbled badly at the start of the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds, finished 1 3/4 lengths back in second. It was another neck back to Direct Dial in third.

The Gazebo was one of two stakes on the card. Ministry ($4) won her second straight race at the meet in the $100,000 Downthedustryroad. The stakes were run later than scheduled after a driving rainstorm hit mid-card, forcing a delay of the sixth race on an afternoon of volatile weather. There was a tornado warning in the morning hours and flash flood warnings were in effect later in the day.

Bourne in Nixa ($14.60) had one horse beat early in a race run in the rain, as Mitole recovered quickly after his stumble and dueled through fractions of 22.06 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.22 for the half-mile. Bourne in Nixa advanced on the turn and rolled through the stretch to cover six furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:11.75.

“I knew there was a lot of speed and I wanted to be back off the pace,” said Ramon Vazquez, who was aboard for trainer Steve Margolis.

Bourne in Nixa was cutting back to one turn, which gave him his previous two wins, off a sixth-place finish in the $60,000 Big Drama at Delta Downs. He won the third race of his career in the Gazebo, and for his effort earned $75,000. Bourne in Nixa’s wins have all come at six furlongs, including a maiden special weight at Indiana and a first-level allowance at Churchill.

Mitole came into the Gazebo off a maiden special weight win for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Bourne in Nixa is a son of More Than Ready who races for his breeders, Robert and Lawana Low.

Ministry was the even-money favorite off an allowance win over several of her rivals last month at Oaklawn. She stalked the pace set by Ms Fifty First St., who was pressured through an opening quarter in 22.61 seconds and a half-mile in 47.13. Minstry advanced, came four wide into the stretch, and rallied for a 1 1/4-length win over Avisioninchocolate. Ministry covered six furlongs for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:13.32.

“She was just fantastic,” said Jaime Gonzalez, who trains Ministry.

Gonzalez said the wet track did not concern him because Ministry had run well on a sloppy surface last year at Churchill Downs. He trains the horse for Dr. Linda Robbins, who stands Ministry’s sire, Ordained, at her Starfish Stallions in Hot Springs, Ark.

Ministry, who was ridden by Tommy Pompell, earned $60,000. She has now won four of seven career starts and earned $236,920.