Radosevich has double punch in Mackey Memorial

Nikki My Darling and True Cinder both put together win streaks last season, establishing themselves among the standout Ohio-bred females. Both look to regain momentum in the $75,000 Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora on Saturday at Thistledown, a six-furlong race for statebred fillies and mares.

Nikki My Darling and Mayas Queen Neetee give trainer Jeff Radosevich a powerful one-two punch in a salty field for the Angenora. Nikki My Darling, Mayas Queen Neetee, and Proper Discretion are coupled in the wagering because all three are owned in part or solely by the Loooch Racing Stables of Ron Paolucci.

Nikki My Darling scored three consecutive victories to end 2017, with a 6 1/2-length win in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks in track-record time for 1 1/8 miles, then an eight-length romp over the formidable Justalittlesmoke in the Pay the Man Stakes. She was last seen in September at Thistledown, rolling to an eight-length victory in an optional-claiming event over open company.

Meanwhile, Mayas Queen Neetee put together a multiple stakes-winning season highlighted by a 5 3/4-length victory in the Best of Ohio Distaff on the state’s showcase program in October at Belterra Park. Mayas Queen Neetee finished fifth in an optional-claiming event April 30 at Thistledown to start her season.

True Cinder won six consecutive races by a combined 31 lengths from November 2017 into last summer, all for owner and trainer Mike Rone. The races in the streak, including four stakes, were on both dirt and turf, at all three of Ohio’s Thoroughbred tracks, at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. Since capping the streak with a win in the Horizon Stakes last August at Belterra, True Cinder has finished second or third four straight times in races won by Leona’s Reward. True Cinder finished second, beaten a length by Leona’s Reward, in the Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes in her 2018 debut. True Cinder now gets away from Leona’s Reward and looks to get back in the win column.

Proper Discretion won two stakes for Ohio-breds last year. The field also includes School Board Prez and Flashy G, second and third in the Best of Ohio Distaff.