Favored Dynamic Vision stretches out, tries turf in Cincinnatian

Belterra Park is the only one of Ohio’s three Thoroughbred tracks to utilize a turf course, and when a chance arises to get statebred black type on the grass, it proves attractive to horsemen and bettors seeking value. Friday’s $75,000 Cincinnatian Stakes for 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies is no exception.

The race has drawn a field of 10, second only to a 12-horse field in a turf claiming race. Unsurprisingly, with few chances available to them, none of the Cincinnatian entrants have ever won on turf. This makes factors such as pedigree clues; wet-track ability, which often translates to turf form; and the 1 1/16-mile distance important. With wet weather in the forecast for the weekend, wet-track form also could be a factor if the race is transferred to the main track.

Dynamic Vision is the lukewarm morning-line favorite at 3-1, followed by Perfect Angel at 4-1, by virtue of their stakes performances. Dynamic Vision, trained and co-owned by Robert Cline, won the Emerald Necklace last October, with Perfect Angel third for owner-trainer Jason DaCosta. Dynamic Vision continued on to win the restricted Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Sales Graduate Stakes.

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

Dynamic Vision is coming off a $50,000 claiming race win last out on a muddy track, which could help her transfer her form to turf. She also is by the stallion Dynamic Racer, who was Grade 3-placed on Turfway Park’s synthetic surface. Her weakness is that she has never run beyond six furlongs.

There may be an opportunity to get creative in the Cincinnatian at a price. Only a few in this field have had prior success at a mile. Jac’s Cocoabella ran away by 10 3/4 lengths to win her maiden at a mile on a dirt track rated good March 12 at Mahoning Valley. In her 16 career starts for Ivan Vazquez, she has raced on wet tracks six times and finished on the board in five of them.

Jac’s Cocoabella went on to cross the line first by a half-length in a mile allowance March 31 at Mahoning. However, she was disqualified for interference, with Cat’s Cradle, a good second for Robert Gorham, promoted to the win. Cat’s Cradle, who also is in the Cincinnatian, is by Drill, a Grade 1 winner on synthetic.

Midnite Kings Fate is the only other entrant in this field to win at a mile. In her third career start for Richard Rettele, she broke her maiden going a mile June 15 at Thistledown.

She is by the Empire Maker horse Sky Kingdom – not only a Grade 1-placed performer on synthetic, but also currently the second-leading turf sire standing in Ohio for 2026, albeit with limited statistics. Sky Kingdom finished fourth on the 2025 turf sires list with a full season of racing factored. None of the stallions ahead of him have an entrant in this field.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.