Queen City Oaks no gimme for School Board Prez

Following unsuccessful excursions to Iowa and Indiana, School Board Prez returns to Ohio-bred company – where she has collected four stakes wins over the past two seasons – for Sunday’s $75,000 Norm Barron Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park. Although the Chicago-based School Board Prez has the credentials to win the 1 1/8-mile dirt race for 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies, she faces stiff competition from Katalust and Tune Up.

Katalust, based at Churchill Downs with trainer Donnie Von Hemel, was beaten three-quarters of a length by School Board Prez as the 8-5 favorite in the Tomboy on turf at Belterra on May 23. All five of Katalust’s previous starts came against open company, including two good efforts going a mile at Oaklawn Park.

Her dam, The Cat’s Reach, produced foals who went a combined 5 for 20 with earnings of $246,349 in dirt routes up to 1 3/16 miles. Katalust is a half-sister to Yougotthatgoinforu, who was 5 for 18 in dirt routes, highlighted by a 105 Beyer Speed Figure going 1 1/16 miles.

Tune Up ran the fastest race of her 15-race career last time out, when she was beaten just three-quarters of a length by the top older Ohio-bred female in training, Justalittlesmoke, in the 1 1/16-mile J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at Thistledown in late June. The 71 Beyer that Tune Up earned for that performance is the best dirt figure in Sunday’s field.

The field also includes Star Mabee, who finished a head behind School Board Prez in last fall’s 1 1/16-mile John W. Galbraith at Thistledown. Star Mabee will be facing straight 3-year-olds after facing older fillies and mares in her first three starts this season, including a four-length score going a mile and 70 yards two races ago.

School Board Prez, last season’s champion Ohio-bred juvenile filly, is facing statebreds going two turns on the main track for the first time since October. She is looking to rebound after finishing far back in the one-mile Panthers at Prairie Meadows and third as the 6-5 favorite in a one-mile turf allowance for 3-year-old fillies at Indiana Grand.

School Board Prez has a pedigree to appreciate nine furlongs. Foals from her dam, Torrent of Song, were a combined 11 for 81 with earnings of $385,427 in dirt routes up to 1 3/16 miles. Her half-brother Dad Are We Here won nearly $244,000 in dirt routes, including a 95 Beyer going 1 1/16 miles at Hawthorne.