Midway Holiday back on best surface

Midway Holiday will be back on her favorite surface and at her favorite distance Wednesday evening when she faces seven 3-year-old filly rivals in the $100,000 Indiana Downs Distaff, a one-mile race on turf.

A daughter of Harlan's Holiday trained by Greg Foley, Midway Holiday won her first first two outings, both at Fair Grounds going a mile on turf last year. She won a maiden race by 2 1/2 lengths last November and an allowance race in December by 1 1/4 lengths.

Foley then entered Midway Holiday there in the $58,000 Mardi Gras going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in February, but the race was taken off the grass and run on a fast dirt track.

"It was one of those things," Foley said. "It was too short and the wrong surface, but the owners were in town and so we decided to run her."

Midway Holiday finished fifth, beaten four lengths.

"She ran a good race," Foley said. "She made up like six lengths in the stretch, but she couldn't overcome the short distance."

In her last out, March 27 at Turfway Park, Midway Holiday finished third in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks over Polytrack.

"She ran okay over it, but she really likes the grass," Foley said. "She is 2 for 2 over it, and it is definitely her favorite surface."

Foley said that Midway Holiday may run on the dirt in the future, but for now the turf is where he will concentrate her efforts.

"She is a small filly, with a nice stride," he said. "She is gutsy and gives you everything she has got. She works well on dirt, so I wouldn't be afraid to run her over it. We just need to stay away from the distance being too short."

Victor Lebron, the rider for three of Midway Holiday's four starts, including both victories, will be aboard.

Among the other contenders are Sing Sing Cindrela, winner of an allowance at Keeneland; Lisa's Kitten, who won the La Senorita Stakes at Retama Park going a mile on turf; and Helen Belen, winner of the Valdale Stakes at Turfway.