Horizon features field of Ohio-breds untested on turf
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
The $75,000 Horizon Stakes, for Ohio-accredited 3-year-olds on the turf Friday at Belterra Park, has drawn a sizeable field of 11. Making the group even more inscrutable is the fact that none of the 11 has ever set a competitive hoof on turf. A handful of contenders in this field exit what would have been two logical local preps for this race, both rained off the turf last month in Ohio.
The fillies Boogie Boogie and Sammy’s Sister were one-two in the Cincinnatian Stakes going this 1 1/16-mile distance on July 2 at Belterra, a race that was rained off the turf and moved to the main track, which was rated good. Boogie Boogie, who is trained by Mike Rone, led throughout the race, getting away with pedestrian fractions under Luis Rivera and digging in gamely in the stretch to hold off Sammy’s Sister by a length. She is the only horse in this field to win at the Horizon’s 1 1/16-mile distance. In her start prior to the Cincinnatian, and first time partnered with Rivera, she also won an allowance race at a mile.
Sammy’s Sister, who chased throughout in second, emerged from her Cincinnatian effort to win an allowance race against older fillies on July 22. Jose Bracho, who has ridden her to two wins in their three outings together this year, keeps the call for Friday’s race.
Big Truck, a stakes winner sprinting on dirt as a juvenile last season, was set to test the turf in the Best of Ohio Green Carpet Stakes on May 28 at Belterra for trainer Larry Smith. That race also was forced off the turf and contested at 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy, sealed main track. The gelding finished third, running evenly throughout under regular rider Perry Ouzts. Since then, he has rebounded in allowance company, most recently winning a 6 1/2-furlong sprint against older horses on July 2 at Belterra. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 69, the top last-out number in this field; he also sports the field’s career-best Beyer, a 72.
First Song was multiple stakes-placed last season as a juvenile for trainer Tim Hamm and partner WinStar Farm, who form one of the state’s leading operations. The field is completed by Big Al’s Express, Jimtown, Johnny C, Mymonstersforreal, Packs Not Bad, Pink’s Point, and Shanghai Prince.