Kela's Turn looks formidable against statebreds in Mamie Eisenhower

Kela’s Turn will be looking for her third straight win at the Prairie Meadows meet on Friday night, when she moves back into the Iowa-bred ranks for the $65,000 Mamie Eisenhower Stakes.

The six-furlong race for fillies and mares highlights a nine-race card. The Eisenhower drew a field of seven, including stakes winners Bossy Moment, Blaze Away N Hide, and Snapy Gal.

Kela’s Turn is a five-time stakes winner, with her latest victory coming June 10 in the Prairie Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows. She was a head winner over open company and should start as a strong favorite on the move back into the Iowa-bred ranks Friday.

Kela’s Turn was a dominant winner the last time she raced against statebreds in an allowance May 16 at Prairie. She won by 3 1/4 lengths while making her first start since January.

Overall at the Iowa track, Kela’s Turn boasts a 7-for-10 record. She will break from post 2 in the Eisenhower and could either show the way or get an ideal tracking trip behind Sabra, who starts from gate 3; My Golden Day, who breaks from the rail; and possibly Blaze Away N Hide, who starts from post 5.

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Jockey Alex Birzer has the mount on Kela’s Turn for her breeder, Loretta McClintock, and her trainer, Henry Guillory Jr.

Birzer spent the winter riding Kela’s Turn at Delta Downs, where she won an allowance sprint and captured the $100,000 Treasure Chest at mile in November. Kela’s Turn has used her tactical speed to build a career record of nine wins from 15 starts for earnings of $376,506.

The 4-year-old daughter of Kela is the highest earner in the Eisenhower, a race in which she finished second in 2021.

Snapy Girl was third in last year’s Eisenhower and enters this year’s renewal off a runner-up finish to Kela’s Turn on May 16. Snapy Girl was making her first start since September and has reason to make a nice move forward in her second start back Friday.

Blaze Away N Hide could get an ideal trip just off Sabra, My Golden Day, and Kela’s Turn. She will break outside of those runners, who like her have natural speed. Blaze Away N Hide enters the Eisenhower off a win in the $65,000 Bob Bryant for 3-year-old fillies bred in Iowa. Before that, she won an allowance over older rivals, also at Prairie.