Maturing Our Bay B Ruth wins first stakes in Tropical Park Oaks

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Our Bay B Ruth registered her fourth victory in her last five starts and became a stakes winner by outfinishing the game 31-1 outsider Isla Road to win Saturday’s $75,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park.

Tyler Gaffalione orchestrated a perfect trip for Our Bay B Ruth. Rating mid-pack while saving ground early on, Our Bay B Ruth angled four wide to commence her bid into the stretch, hooked up with Isla Road nearing the furlong grounds, and proved best by a neck under strong handling.

Isla Road tracked the early leaders, fought on gamely inside the winner during the late stages but was not quite good enough. Frond was a nose better than La Feve to finish third, with 2-1 favorite Great Sister Diane checking in fifth in a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies.

Our Bay B Ruth is a 3-year-old daughter of Candy Ride. Owned in partnership by Homewrecker Racing LLC and Summerplace Farm, she completed a mile and one-sixteenth over a good turf course in 1:42.34 and paid $14.80.

“She’s getting better and better,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “She’s had a really good year. She finally got some black-type in her 3-year-old year and she got a masterful ride from Tyler. He found a beautiful seam and he rode her with a lot of confidence.”

Kenneally said maturity has been the key to Our Bay B Ruth’s improvement during the second half of the season.

“She was immature last year, she’s just kind of grown up, gotten more relaxed in her races, and that’s enabled her to finish better,” said Kenneally.

Janus Stakes: Extravagant kid takes off-the-turf Janus

The versatile Extravagant Kid found the switch from turf to dirt and a drop out of graded stakes company just the right remedy to get back on the winning track in the $75,000 Janus Stakes.

Extravagant Kid finished second behind Vision Perfect in the 2018 Janus, which was run as scheduled on the grass. But last year’s winner was scratched Saturday morning after the five-furlong Janus was switched to the main track due to overnight rain.

With Gaffalione aboard him for the first time since June, Extravagant Kid prompted the early pace under confident handling, overtook Faction Cat inside the eighth pole, and gradually edged clear. It was another 3 1/2 lengths further back to Archidust. Running for Riz and Tenacity Zip rounded out the order of finish in a field that scratched down from nine to five starters.

Extravagant Kid, second in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road at Woodbine in his previous start, posted his fourth win in seven starts this season and fifth career victory on dirt. He completed the distance in 57.52 seconds over a fast track and paid $4.60 as the tepid favorite.

Abundantia Stakes: Jean Elizabeth extends dirt streak

Jean Elizabeth remained perfect in four starts on dirt after registering a well-deserved head decision over Escapade in the $75,000 Abundantia which, like the Janus, was moved from the turf to the main track.

Jean Elizabeth, a 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie, forced the early pace of 3-5 favorite and defending champion Girls Know Best, put that one away upon settling into the stretch, then held safe a late surge from Escapade. Girls Knows Best finished another 2 1/4 lengths further back in third.

Irad Ortiz Jr. was named to replace Rajiv Maragh aboard Jean Elizabeth after his original mount in the Abundantia, Travieza, was scratched following the surface switch.

Jean Elizabeth completed five furlongs in 57.43, .09 seconds faster than Extravagant Kid’s winning time an hour earlier in the Janus. She paid $10 as the co-second second choice in a field of seven older fillies and mares