River Downs: School Lass tries two turns, turf in Tomboy

School Lass will attempt to win her second consecutive Ohio-bred event since coming north from Oaklawn Park when she heads a field of seven Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Tomboy, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf at River Downs.

Trained by Mark Thomas, School Lass was an impressive winner April 2 at Beulah Park when facing Ohio-bred company for the first time in the Royal North. In that six-furlong event, School Lass came from off the pace to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Her previous victory came at Oaklawn in a six-furlong maiden claiming event Jan. 22. The big questions are whether School Lass will be able to go two turns and how she will take to the turf. Joe Johnson will ship in to ride.

With rain expected Friday, it is not certain that the race will be run over the turf course. However, new general manager Kevin Kaufman has made use of the turf course a priority.

“I have heard that the turf course was not utilized as much as it possibly could be in the past,” Kaufman said. “We plan on using it as much as possible. It is grass, it will grow back. As long as it is safe for the jockeys, we plan to use it.”

Trainer Tim Hamm sends out two starters, 2-year-old Ohio champion Startin Something and Muir Woods, a maiden who ran fifth at Keeneland in her debut April 21 going two turns.