In the Mood up in time in Cincinnati Trophy Stakes

Friday night’s $50,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park boiled down to early leader Streetlady wanting no part of the race’s 6 1/2-furlong distance and the late-running In the Mood needing every inch of it. Those two factors led to Streetlady blowing a commanding midstretch lead and In the Mood catching her by a head on the wire.

Sixth midway on the turn after Streetlady clocked splits of 23.34 seconds and 45.82, In the Mood kept plugging away in the stretch to outkick the other closers and run down a leg-weary Streetlady. The winner, who returned $13 as the third choice in the field of 10, finished in 1:17.63 over Turfway’s Polytrack surface.

“Turning for home, she just exploded,” winning rider John McKee said.

It was the first stakes victory for In the Mood and owners Stephen and Brenda Sandy, who claimed her for $40,000 at Keeneland in October. Stephen Sandy also trains her.

A daughter of Eskendereya out of the top-class mare Sisterhood, she is bred to be even more effective at a route and could get that opportunity in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at a mile March 17 at Turfway.

The Bourbonette also could prove a fitting race for third-place Homemade Salsa, who rallied from last to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner. In contrast, Streetlady gave the impression Friday of being a pure sprinter, as did 8-5 favorite Fairyland, who faded to sixth.