As defending winner, I Recall has turf credentials in Vivacious

Defending winner I Recall has a number of advantages in a big field of 11 Ohio-bred fillies and mares for the $75,000 Vivacious Stakes on the Belterra Park turf, one of two stakes on the Cincinnati track’s Saturday program.

Several lining up for this 1 1/16-mile tilt have limited turf experience, making I Recall a standout as she ships in from her Presque Isle Downs base for John Bourke, who also co-bred and co-owns the mare. She was game to prevail by a head after a long drive in the 2022 Vivacious. She then added victories in the Pay the Man Stakes and Best of Ohio Distaff, both at nine furlongs on dirt, and was named Ohio’s outstanding handicap mare for the season.

Most recently, I Recall has made two allowance-optional claiming starts this year at six furlongs on Presque Isle’s synthetic track, finishing second each time. She has laid just off the pace in those recent outings, a tactic she could find herself using Saturday as she and Angel Stanley go a route of ground again. There seems to be plenty of pace in this edition of the Vivacious, as Parfait, Buckeye Bling, Windy Lu Who, and Perfectingtheview all seem likely to be forwardly placed. Wortherweightngold, who has drawn the rail, has also taken initiative when needed.

Soft Talk, the only 3-year-old in this field for trainer Joe Sharp, could also get a good setup stalking off the pace on the outside under Luis Rivera, with a long run into the first turn to work her way over and save ground. After multiple stakes placings, she broke through with an eight-length win in the Best of Ohio Queen City Oaks last out, going 1 1/16 miles on Belterra’s dirt.

This will be the first start on turf for Soft Talk. The filly is by multi-surface sire Midshipman, and is a half-sister to Ohio stalwart Big Truck, stakes-placed in his only start on turf.

Goodness Sakes joins I Recall as the only member of this field to win on turf, taking the Cincinnatian last year at Belterra. Ledgendary Kitten and Sally Strong are both stakes-placed on the turf.

Earlier on the card, Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies get a stakes opportunity in the $75,000 Jim Morgan Memorial Tah Dah Stakes, with Brief Encounter’s connections making her a standout.

Brief Encounter was a debut winner with a 51 Beyer Speed Figure, the best in this field, for WinBlaze, the regionally high-profile partnership of Kentucky’s WinStar Farm and leading Ohio owner and trainer Tim Hamm. The filly is by the partnership’s National Flag, last year’s leading freshman sire in Ohio. She is a half-sister to 2022 Best of Ohio Juvenile winner Grand Isle.

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