Recount brings strong Polytrack credentials into Prairie Bayou Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Trainer Jimmy DiVito is on his way to Arkansas from Chicago this winter, but before shipping out, he’ll slip over to Turfway Park for a stakes engagement Saturday night.
DiVito will send out Recount as a top contender in the $50,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack. Recount, a 3-year-old Illinois-bred gelding, is unbeaten in four starts over Polytrack. Among his chief opposition in a diverse lineup is Midnight Cello, along with Rerun, Flashlight, and Six Spot.
Recount “is a real consistent horse that tries hard,” DiVito said this week from Hawthorne. “Obviously, his record on the Poly is a good reason to come that way. He’ll run on the dirt, too. We’re just trying to get on a roll heading into the winter.”
Recount will have Dick Cardenas aboard when stretching out off an easy score in his last start, a restricted stakes on the Hawthorne dirt. All four of his triumphs over synthetic have come at Arlington Park, including the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity in September 2014.
DiVito, like many trainers at this time of year, is in a state of transition, with some of his horses headed to a Florida farm and about eight to Oaklawn Park.
The Prairie Bayou, named for the 1993 Jim Beam Stakes winner at Turfway, is carded as the fourth of nine Saturday races. First post is 6:15 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 7:42.
The Prairie Bayou is the second and last stakes of the holiday meet, which runs through Dec. 31. Eight stakes are scheduled for the winter-spring meet that runs Jan. 1 to April 3.
KEY CONTENDERS
Recount (Last 3 Beyers: 100-79-83)
◗ His perfect record over Polytrack is hard to deny, even though “he’s pretty solid on dirt, too,” according to DiVito.
◗ His career-best Beyer Speed Figure from that Hawthorne victory last month shows he’s in sharp form.
Midnight Cello (Last 3 Beyers: 82-75-93)
◗ This 5-year-old gelding has met the strongest competition this year, and if he and leading jockey Albin Jimenez can overcome the outside post, and if he runs like he did in his Hanshin win at Arlington and his runner-up finish in the Presque Isle Mile, he should be tough to deny.
Flashlight (Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-95)
◗ This Irish-bred 5-year-old has done most of his racing on turf, although he is 2 for 4 on synthetics.
◗ High Beyers make him an obvious threat for perennial top trainer Mike Maker.
Rerun (Last 3 Beyers: 83-88-83)
◗ He’s met some salty turf horses this year, including Lochte, Key to Power, and Regally Ready, so there’s that; best effort and a clean inside trip could make him a player.