Tune Up blossoming with maturity

In seven starts as a 2-year-old last season, the filly Tune Up was badly beaten six times. With the exception of her second career start at ThistleDown, where she missed by a neck, Tune Up finished anywhere between nine and 27 lengths behind the winner.

But since she turned 3, Tune Up has done nothing except win. Unbeaten in three starts since early January, Tune Up looks like a prime player in the first stakes of the season in Ohio, Saturday’s $75,000 Southern Park for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Tune Up is one of just two fillies in the 12-horse field for the six-furlong Southern Park with more than one win. The other multiple winner, Sheza Fine Justice, is a 20-1 outsider on the morning line after getting trounced in all five of her previous stakes tries.

The two most intriguing challengers to Tune Up are a pair of maidens, Touch of Bling and Talkaholic.

Touch of Bling is 0 for 7 but has finished second five times – all while facing open company. The 68 Beyer Speed Figure she earned three starts ago when she missed by a head at Oaklawn Park is the best in Saturday’s field.

Talkaholic is winless in six starts at Penn National but is a full sister to Hebbronville, a two-time Grade 3 stakes winner.

KEY CONTENDERS

Southern Park, Race 7

Tune Up, by Giant Oak

Last 3 Beyers: 53-42-25

◗ Donald Bookman, her trainer, breeder, and owner in partnership with co-breeder Linda Friess and Joann Hayes, is 0 for 17 lifetime in stakes. His two best finishes were a pair of seconds by the filly Sweet Hollyrun in 1994.

◗ Tune Up returns 18 days after a dominant 5 3/4-length victory in a statebred allowance.

Touch of Bling, by Tale of the Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 53-60-68

◗ Has yet to reach the winner’s circle despite a string of good efforts at Belterra, Churchill Downs, Oaklawn, and Parx. Trainer Mike Maker is 0 for 6 in Ohio-bred stakes over the last five years, including three runners who went off at odds of 2-1 or lower.

Purple Flowers, by Line of David

Last 3 Beyers: 60-45-38

◗ Makes her second start off a $30,000 claim last November at Churchill. Finished second to Ohio-bred 2-year-old champion School Board Prez in the Tah Dah.

Fast Justice, by Regal Ransom

Last 3 Beyers: 21-53-39

◗ Crushed maidens in her only previous start against Ohio-breds in December. Ships in from Tampa Bay Downs.