Layoff fillies Bourbina, More Mo for Me look best in maiden race

In a tumultuous week for its new parent company Churchill Downs, Turfway Park continues to conduct live racing, although with its aging grandstand empty in the final weeks of its meet with spectators not allowed to attend due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the final cards conducted at the facility as it currently exists – with Churchill planning major construction and refurbishments following the close of the meeting on March 28 – will be Friday night’s eight-race program, which begins at 6:15 p.m. Eastern. The only non-claiming event on the night is the seventh race, a $46,000 maiden special weight at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack for fillies and mares.

The highest Beyer Speed Figures in the field belong to Bourbina and More Mo for Me, who are both coming off layoffs following races elsewhere on the Kentucky circuit.

Bourbina, by Paynter, made four starts last year on dirt, one at Ellis Park and then three at Churchill, all for trainer Jason Cook. Her most recent outing last November was her best. Going 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track at Churchill, she led the way in a maiden special weight and then was caught late to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths to Tempers Rising, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 64. Tempers Rising has gone on to finish third in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds and fourth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes there, earning qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks both times.

Although this will be Bourbina’s first start on a synthetic track, the Churchill main track often plays kindly toward turf or synthetic runners, particularly when wet.

Rodney Prescott was in the irons for Bourbina’s last race, and retains the mount Friday. Bourbina shows just one recent work, four furlongs March 4 on the Skylight training center’s all-weather track.

More Mo for Me, a 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly, made her debut going six furlongs on a wet-fast track at Churchill last June, finishing third with a 60 Beyer. She then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles on the Ellis Park turf. After leading, she faded to sixth, and earned a Beyer of 62.

She is making her first start since that race last July, and her first for Dermot Littlefield after previously being trained by Brian Lynch. She gets the services of Albin Jimenez, Turfway’s leading rider.

Quality Too Spare is the only other member of the field to reach the 60 Beyer threshold, posting a 61 in a race last October at Churchill. The Quality Road filly owns six third-place finishes as her best result in 13 career starts, including at Turfway in her most recent outing Feb. 21. She is trained by Kelly Spanabel, who also has the first-time starter Wrap Me Up in the field.