Nun the Less turns it on late in Prairie Bayou

Nun the Less punctuated a rewarding 2018 campaign Friday evening at Turfway Park by winning the $50,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes by a length.

A $40,000 claim in June by trainer Cipriano Contreras, Nun the Less scored for the third time in eight races this year, turning in one of his finest efforts. Seventh early under Walter De La Cruz, he advanced rapidly on the second turn to reach contention, and outkicked a determined runner-up in Lanier down the stretch. He raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.54, paying $14.40 as the fourth choice in the field of 11.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs

Lanier, who pressed the pace in third early, finished four lengths in front of comebacking Royal Son, who was third. Finishing far back were the race favorites, Camelot Kitten, winner of the Kentucky Cup Classic in the spring at Turfway, and 2017 Spiral winner Fast and Accurate. They finished eighth and last, respectively.

The Prairie Bayou marked the second stakes victory in the 28-race career of Nun the Less, a 6-year-old gelded son of Candy Ride owned by Crystal Racing Enterprises and Contreras Stable Inc. For different connections he won the Mystic Lake Derby on turf at Canterbury Park as a 3-year-old in the summer of 2015.

Contreras shifted him this fall from grass to dirt to win an optional claimer at Indiana Grand and an allowance at Mahoning Valley. Friday, Nun the Less continued this reinvention, making the successful transition to Turfway’s synthetic Polytrack surface.