True Cinder dominates Buckeye Native Stakes

True Cinder scorched her way through an impressive win streak last season before fizzling out against archrival Leona's Reward in late summer. The filly has shown renewed spark this spring and continued her new streak Sunday, blazing her way to a seven-length triumph in the $75,000 Buckeye Native Stakes at Belterra Park as Leona's Reward checked in third.

The Buckeye Native was originally carded for the turf, but was moved to the sloppy, sealed main track after storms and wet weather throughout the region.

True Cinder ($4) broke from the rail under Gerardo Corrales, who has been aboard for her two most recent stakes triumphs. The filly dominated her foes throughout, ticking off early splits of 23.44 seconds for the quarter and 46.89 for the half while leading by two lengths. She began to widen her advantage through six furlongs in 1:11.36, and had opened a 5 1/2-length lead by upper stretch. She continued rolling down the lane to her final margin of seven lengths, stopping the clock in 1:44.84 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Mobil Solution was second, three lengths clear of Leona's Reward, who raced evenly throughout in third. Veteran campaigner Eightthehardway was another 6 1/2 lengths back in fourth. Eightthehardway, Mobil Solution, and Leona's Reward made up the top three placings, respectively, in last month's George Lewis Memorial Stakes on the Ohio Derby undercard.

True Cinder, owned and trained by Michael Rone, won six straight races, including four stakes, by a combined 31 lengths from November 2016 through last August. The versatile Alcindor filly put together that streak on both dirt and turf, at all three of Ohio’s Thoroughbred tracks, and at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

But then Leona's Reward got the best of her rival, winning a series of stakes over her as True Cinder chased her to four consecutive stakes placings, culminating with a runner-up effort in the Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial on May 5 in the season debut for both. Getting away from her rival, True Cinder righted the ship, powering to a 6 3/4-length victory in the Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes on June 2 at Thistledown, setting her up for Sunday's effort.

Earlier on the card, Magna Rose broke her maiden in the $75,000 Norm Barron Queen City Oaks for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Magna Rose ($14.80) stalked the pace in second under John McKee, pounced on leader Distinctive Flower into the lane and briefly dueled with that one, then pulled clear for a 5 3/4-length win. She completed the 1 1/8 miles on the main track in 1:52.22.

Distinctive Flower easily held second, 4 1/2 lengths clear of favored Marathon. It was another 5 3/4 lengths to multiple stakes winner Missap.

This was the fifth career start for Magna Rose, who had finished second in four maiden special weight races from April to June at Golden Gate in California. Following her most recent outing on June 9, she was transferred from Blaine Wright to trainer Brendan Walsh for owner Ten Broeck Farm.