School Board Prez captures Norm Barron Queen City Oaks
School Board Prez is based at Arlington Park with trainer Doug Matthews. But clearly she loves making road trips to Ohio.
Back at Belterra Park after unsuccessful excursions to Iowa and Indiana, School Board Prez won her fifth consecutive stakes against Oho-bred fillies when she rallied to take Sunday’s $75,000 Norm Barron Queen City Oaks.
A homebred daughter of Courageous Cat owned and bred by John Royer, School Board Prez is now 5 for 5 in stakes restricted to Ohio-breds and perfect in three starts at Belterra Park.
Ridden by Olaf Hernandez, who was aboard for the filly’s most recent victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tomboy on Belterra’s turf course in May, School Board Prez ($4.20) came up the rail and erased Tune Up’s 1 1/2-length advantage at the eighth pole to win by 2 1/2 lengths. She completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.19.
Hernandez was able to maintain control of his mount despite losing his left iron going into the first turn of the two-turn race.
Tune Up, part of the early pace battle with Harlee Honey, finished second for the third straight time. Katalust, the 5-2 second choice, was third, snapping a string of four straight runner-up finishes. She was 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up.
School Board Prez, last season’s champion Ohio-bred 2-year-old filly, is now 5 for 8 with earnings of $277,680.
Hope's Frog Song wins prep for Vivacious Handicap
Hope's Frog Song, runner-up in last year's Vivacious Handicap while making her turf debut at 54-1, will be a far shorter price when the $75,000 stakes for Ohio-bred fillies and mares is contested on Aug. 7 after dominating Sunday's $25,000 allowance prep.
Second, a length behind pacesetter Morning Star Rose, after the first six furlongs of Sunday's one-mile turf race, Hope's Frog Song ($9.80) took over in the stretch and cruised home 6 1/2 lengths in front under Megan Fadlovich.
Needmore Flattery, who beat Hope's Frog Song by 3 3/4 lengths in last year's Vivacious, finished second, a neck ahead of Morning Star Rose.
The winning time was 1:36.41.