Crazy Beautiful aces first synthetic test in Latonia Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
A trio of Tapeta races with maximum purses of $200,000 kicked off the stakes proceedings Saturday at Turfway Park, where a busy 12-race card would later culminate with the Jeff Ruby Steaks, the annual signature event at the northern Kentucky track.
Here’s a recap of those first three stakes:
Crazy Beautiful best in Latonia
The sizable class edge that Crazy Beautiful brought to the 1 1/16-mile Latonia was enough to overcome her lack of experience over synthetic tracks when the 4-year-old gray filly persevered for a 1 1/2-length triumph under Brian Hernandez Jr.
Breeze Rider, the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares, led most of the way before Crazy Beautiful hit full stride and surged past her in deep stretch, giving the daughter of Liam’s Map her seventh win from 16 starts while increasing her career bankroll to $984,490. Crazy Beautiful paid $6.40 as second choice when making her first start on an all-weather surface.
Trained by Kenny McPeek for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Crazy Beautiful already had won five prior stakes, three of them graded and all on dirt.
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“She’s just a classy filly, all heart,” McPeek said.
Breeze Rider held second by a nose over 17-1 shot Wait for Nairobi.
Kitodan rallies in Rushaway
Last of 11 3-year-olds through the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile Rushaway, Kitodan ($17) looped the field on the final turn en route to a 3 1/2-length triumph under Joe Bravo.
Shipping north for trainer Mike Maker off back-to-back starter-allowance wins at Gulfstream Park, Kitodan finished in 1:43.66. The Point of Entry colt was claimed in early February by Maker for $35,000 on behalf of Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher.
Tommy Bee was second, and Slim Slow Slider was third.
Nobals wires Animal Kingdom
Nobals ($9) and jockey Gerardo Corrales seized command in the opening strides before easily finishing clear of a belated run from 64-1 shot Amicable in capturing the six-furlong Animal Kingdom for 3-year-olds.
Larry Rivelli trains Nobals, a Noble Mission gelding, for the Patricia’s Hope LLC of Vince Foglia. The winner finished in 1:10.31 for his fourth victory from seven starts and bookended a 2-for-2 record at the Turfway winter-spring meet, following a gate-to-wire score in the Turfway Prevue on Jan. 8.