Kerfluffle finishes fast to take Cincinnatian Stakes

Bettors slightly preferred two-time stakes winner Ebby over her uncoupled stablemate Kerfluffle in Sunday’s $75,000 Cincinnatian Stakes at Belterra Park. But on the track, where it counted, Kerfluffle was clearly best.

Coming back just nine days after winning her turf debut against maidens, Kerfluffle came charging hard in the final furlong under jockey Perry Ouzts to win the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for Ohio-accredited 3-year-old fillies.

Sixth after the opening half-mile in 47.69 seconds behind pacesetter Ebby, Kerfluffle was still fourth at the eighth pole when she launched her winning move, taking the lead inside the sixteenth pole and drawing clear by 1 1/4 lengths. Pretty Gritty, stretching out after winning her maiden sprinting six furlongs on dirt July 1, finished second, a neck in front of Mom Genes. Ebby, the 9-5 favorite making her turf debut, wound up fourth, a half-length behind Mom Genes. The winning time over firm turf was 1:43.02.

Kerfluffle is a homebred daughter of Mr. Silver owned and bred by Craig and Cathy Beam’s Thorobeam Farm. She is trained by Doug Cowans.