Turf Melody finds specialty

Turf Melody has put his name in the mix for some of next year's early 3-year-old route stakes following his career performance last Sunday in the at Remington Park. He was up for a nose win after trouble in the stretch, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

"He ran super," said Graham Motion, who trains Turf Melody. "That's kind of what I'd always hoped he was capable of doing. It's taken us a while getting there. I think the two turns on the dirt was the key."

This fall, Turf Melody had placed in a pair of seven-furlong stakes that were run on synthetic tracks at Arlington and Woodbine. He then won an allowance at Laurel prior to becoming a stakes winner in the Springboard. On Wednesday, Turf Melody was traveling back to his Maryland base of Fair Hills, and Motion said he will now be considered for stakes in Louisiana, Florida, and New York.

"We'll look for one of the 3-year-old races at the end of January or the beginning of February," he said.

Motion said plans are to keep Turf Melody racing exclusively on dirt. The horse has registered his three career wins on dirt, starting with a 15-length maiden romp at seven furlongs at Colonial Downs in his second career start June 10.

Turf Melody, a $200,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, is by Champagne winner Maria's Mon. He is from the mare Tricky Bird, making him a half-brother to Stanley Park, a past winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey and Grade 3 Bay Meadows Derby. Turf Melody races for Priscilla Graham.