Vote No dominates Turfway Prevue Stakes

Vote No dominated the $125,000 Turfway Prevue Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths on Saturday night in an effort that could lead to the gelding stretching out to target Kentucky Derby points races.

Trainer William Morey indicated postrace that he hopes to target Vote No, who earned a career-high 88 Beyer Speed Figure on Saturday night, for the Grade 3 $700,000 Jeff Ruby on March 23, with Turfway’s signature Derby prep awarding points toward a spot in the spring classic on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. The Ruby has a local prep that also offers Derby points in the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial on March 2, those points coming on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.

Favored Vote No ($4.98) broke from the rail under Gerardo Corrales in a scratch-reduced field of five, and was unhurried early, never in danger of getting caught in traffic as the small group of sophomores settled in to their spots. Vote No was in fourth, about 4 1/2 lengths back, as Let’s Go Mark had a clear lead taking the field through the opening half in 45.38 seconds on the Tapeta. Vote No began to make up ground on the leader under his own power exiting the turn, easily moved to him when given a few left-handed cracks by Corrales, and once in the lead, was ridden out to the wire.

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The time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.70.

Let's Go Mark held a clear second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Joe Shiesty, who was sent away as the second choice off a dominant maiden win at Turfway.

Vote No, from the first crop of Divisidero, won for the third time in four career starts, and earned his second stakes win. The gelding won the Juvenile Sprint going 6 1/2 furlongs last September on the Kentucky Downs turf. In his first two-turn start, he was third, beaten a length, in the Grade 2 Bourbon last October on the Keeneland turf.

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