School Board Prez tackles older in Vivacious Handicap

School Board Prez, a two-time stakes winner against her own age group this season after earning champion honors as the top Ohio-bred 2-year-old filly last season, will challenge older fillies and mares for the first time in Sunday’s $75,000 Vivacious Handicap at Belterra Park.

Based at Arlington Park with trainer Doug Matthews, School Board Prez switches from dirt to turf and cuts back from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/16 miles just 14 days after winning the Queen City Oaks. She won her season debut in the 1 1/16-mile Tomboy on turf May 22. School Board Prez has five wins in eight starts.

The field includes last year’s Vivacious winner, Needmore Flattery, and the mare who trounced her in the Vivacious prep two weeks ago, Hope’s Frog Song.

Although the 5-year-old Hope’s Frog Song was visually impressive in beating Needmore Flattery by 6 1/2 lengths going a mile on turf, no one knows how fast she ran. No Beyer Speed Figures were calculated for the race.

A year ago, Needmore Flattery, a two-time Ohio-bred Horse of the Year, won the Vivacious by 3 3/4 lengths as the even-money favorite, with Hope’s Frog Song finishing second at 54-1.

Two potential longshots with no turf form are Morant Bay and Redstart.

The 5-year-old Morant Bay, trained by Thistledown leader Jeff Radosevich, raced well in last year’s Vivacious until the final furlong after breaking from post 10 in a 12-horse field. Three years ago, she was a close third in the Grade 3 Mazarine on Woodbine’s Polytrack.

Redstart, based at Churchill Downs with trainer Buff Bradley, has never run on turf, but her dam, Absolute Nectar, produced offspring who are 5 for 13 with earnings of $210,350 on grass.

Vivacious Handicap, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

School Board Prez, by Courageous Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 68-69-46

◗ She’s 5 for 5 in stakes against Ohio-breds at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

◗ Matthews is 2 for 6 (33 percent) with a $2.00 return on investment with 3-year-old last-out winners challenging older horses in turf routes while back in fewer than 30 days.

Hope’s Frog Song, by Kentucky Dane

Last 3 Beyers: 41-52-60

◗ It’s safe to say she won’t be anywhere near 54-1 like she was in this event last year.

Needmore Flattery, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 64-63-57

◗ She was no match for Hope’s Frog Song as the 1-5 favorite two weeks ago and will need to run faster than the 65 Beyer she got for winning last year’s Vivacious to repeat.