Golden Sonata in best form of career

Following the cancellation of racing at Turfway on Jan. 31 due to bitterly cold temperatures, the $50,000 WEBN Stakes was rescheduled and now shares top billing with the $50,000 Likely Exchange Stakes on Saturday.

The Likely Exchange is the deeper of the two races, featuring a field of 12 led by stakes winners Golden Sonata and Sweetwater Promise.

Golden Sonata, a 5-year-old daughter of Mr. Prospector, rallied to score her first stakes victory when she took the $60,000 Truly Bound Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 4. Previously, she had won an allowance at Turfway on Dec. 6.

Tom Drury trains her in Kentucky for owner James Spence. Jeff Johnston rides.

Golden Sonata has a recency edge over Sweetwater Promise, who has not raced since winning a money allowance at Turfway on Dec. 19.

A winner of more than $238,000, Sweetwater Promise excels racing over the Turfway surface, where she has won four of seven starts. Leading rider Rafael Bejarano has the mount.

Golden Sonata and Sweetwater Promise will start from opposite ends of the starting gate for the one-mile Likely Exchange: Golden Sonata drew post 1, Sweetwater Promise post 12. Both horses rally from far back and should receive a legitimate pace behind front-runners Lethal Temper, Glitter Act, and Balla Twine.

The WEBN showcases 3-year-old colts and geldings. A year after nearly sweeping the stakes races for 3-year-old males at Turfway with Champali, trainer Greg Foley is back with another promising 3-year-old, Silver Minister.

A son of Silver Deputy, Silver Minister tries a route for the first time in the one-mile WEBN. Although untested beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, Silver Minister has a route pedigree. His dam, Mint Leaf, is a half-sister to Ide, who won the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club and other graded stakes races.

While Silver Minister is trying to prove the ability to race effectively at a route, four entrants in the WEBN are already winners racing two turns. Commandment, Peter the Rock, Mister E.K, and Rubiano Lad have all won at a mile or longer.

Rubiano Lad is the only starter with multiple route victories, having won a maiden race and an allowance at a mile. His most recent victory came Jan. 7, when he rallied from off the pace to post a 1 1/4-length victory over Comm-andment.

The inconsistent Danieltown may prove the one to catch. He comes off a 16-length allowance victory at Turfway that earned him a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. That freakish performance followed four losses in which he did not earn a Beyer above 72.