True Cinder, Leona's Reward meet yet again in Buckeye Native

True Cinder got away from rival Leona’s Reward last out and got back on track with a runaway stakes victory. The two distaffers are reunited in a salty field for Sunday’s $75,000 Buckeye Native Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and up on the Belterra Park turf.

True Cinder, owned and trained by Michael Rone, won six straight races by a combined 31 lengths from November 2016 through last August. That streak included four stakes – the Glacial Princess, Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial, Cincinnatian, and a 5 3/4-length romp in the Horizon Stakes against males. The winning streak was built 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, familiar foe Leona’s Reward got the best of True Cinder. Leona’s Reward, who is bred, co-owned, and trained by Tim Hamm, won a series of stakes as True Cinder finished second behind her in the Catlaunch Stakes, third in the Ohio Debutante, second in the Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap, and then second in the 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.

Meanwhile, Leona’s Reward is exiting a third-place finish in the George Lewis Memorial Stakes last month at Thistledown, with the top four finishers all returning for the Buckeye Native. Eightthehardway posted an emphatic 4 1/2-length score in that race, his 11th stakes win or placing. After runner-up Mobil Solution, it was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Leona’s Reward, who nipped Eightthehardway by a nose in the 2017 Lewis Memorial.

Although Leona’s Reward has gotten the better of True Cinder in their most recent meetings, True Cinder may have an edge for the rematch, as she is 2 for 2 at this 1 1/16-mile distance on the Belterra turf. She drew the rail in the field of 10 under Gerardo Corrales. Leona’s Reward, unplaced in her only turf try, is nearby in post 3 under Pablo Morales.

Earlier on the card, Missap and Ucantkeepup stand out as the only fillies with stakes experience in the $75,000 Norm Barron Queen City Oaks for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies on the main track.

Missap, trained by Kellyn Gorder for breeder Beckett Racing, distinguished herself last year by winning the John W. Galbreath Memorial Stakes by five lengths on the Best of Ohio showcase program. Earlier this year, she won the Green Carpet Stakes against males on turf. She is the only member of this field to go the 1 1/8-mile distance, having finished a nonthreatening fourth as the favorite in the Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup last out.

Ucantkeepup was second to Missap in the Galbreath Memorial last fall. She finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Tomboy Stakes earlier this year. Overall, the filly has won once from eight starts for owner and trainer Charlie Williams.