Breeders’ Cup Runner-Up Dayoutoftheoffice Headlines Field Of 12 For Eight Belles

Trainer Tim Hamm and Siena Farms' Dayoutoftheoffice, runner-up in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland, headlines a field of a dozen 3-year-old fillies for Friday's 66th running of the $300,000 Eight Belles (G2), scheduled for seven furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs.

The Eight Belles will go as the ninth race on the 13-race program with a 4:04 p.m. post time.

Dayoutoftheoffice won her first three starts that included scores in the Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga and the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park prior to the Breeders' Cup.

Gerardo Corrales has the mount Friday and will exit post 10.

The field for the Eight Belles, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Make Mischief (Tyler Gaffalione, 118 pounds)
  2. Cantata (Javier Castellano, 118)
  3. Souper Sensational (John Velazquez, 118)
  4. Euphoric (James Graham, 118)
  5. Windmill (Mike Smith, 118)
  6. Slumber Party (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  7. Obligatory (Jose Ortiz, 118)
  8. Kalypso (Joel Rosario, 120)
  9. Li'l Tootsie (Flavien Prat, 118)
  10. Dayoutoftheoffice (Corrales, 122)
  11. Abrogate (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118)
  12. Caramel Swirl (Luis Saez, 118)

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Turfway’s Winter Handle Up 36 Percent; Corrales, Ward Wrap Up Meet Titles

A stout 36.5 percent increase of all sources handle, along with a rise in starters per race, topped Turfway Park's 38-day Winter/Spring meet that opened Jan 1. and concluded Saturday.

Turfway Park's meet saw overall handle grow to $81.7 million, a $21.9 million increase from 2020. All sources handle per day was up 32.9 percent. The average field size topped 9.8 horses per race compared to 2020's 9.7 starters per race.

“We can't thank our owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers enough for supporting our meet,” Turfway Park's General Manager Chip Bach said. “Our team put together a competitive racing product that appealed to horseplayers nationwide. The positive feedback from the installation of our Tapeta surface was universal from trainers and jockeys. Through Churchill Downs Incorporated's continued investment to renovate Turfway Park, we are looking forward to the future of horse racing in Florence.”

Six live racing days were cancelled due to inclement weather at Turfway Park. However, five of those days were made up by adding an additional race day each week.

Jockey Gerardo Corrales (177-40-27-23—$655,831) had a 23 percent win clip during the meet and led all riders. He finished seven victories ahead of second place Rafael Bejarano, who had 33 wins. A graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey School, Corrales' meet was capped by a victory aboard Outadore in the $65,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes on the undercard of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Trainer Wesley Ward's victory with Like the King in the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) were among his 21 wins at the meet. He had an outstanding 38 percent win clip with purse earnings of $410,997. Ward topped the trainer standings, 21-12, nine wins in front of Bill Morey, who relocated to Kentucky in 2019 from California.

“Kentucky is the epicenter for sales and racing,” Morey said. “We had a fantastic meet at Turfway and really enjoyed running over the Tapeta surface.”

Augustin Stable led the owner standings with eight wins through 20 starts. All eight victories were ridden by jockey Chris Landeros. They finished two wins in front of Small Town Paddock, who recorded six wins through nine starts. They were one win in front of Live Oak Plantation's five wins from eight starters.

A trio of horses recorded three wins at the meet: Richard Alderson's Till Then, who won two of his races under former owner Augustin Stable and Small Town Paddock's Floroplus and Kynance (IRE).

Like the King Stamps Ticket to Kentucky Derby with Victory in Jeff Ruby Steaks

M Racing Group's Like the King stamped his spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve with his victory in the 50th running of the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the premiere race of Turfway Park's meet.

Trained by Ward, Like the King earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his one-length win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Jeff Ruby Steaks day also featured a victory by Godolphin's Adventuring in the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed). She was awarded 50 points towards a spot in the April 30, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Racing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky will shift to Keeneland on Friday for their Spring Meet, which runs through April 23. Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs will begin April 24 and their Spring Meet will run through June 26.

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Turfway Park Meet Concludes with 36.5% All Sources Handle Increase

A stout 36.5% increase of all sources handle, along with a rise in starters per race, topped Turfway Park's 38-day Winter/Spring meet that opened Jan 1. and concluded Saturday.

Turfway Park's meet saw overall handle grow to $81.7 million, a $21.9-million increase from 2020. All sources handle per day was up 32.9%. The average field size topped 9.8 horses per race compared to 2020's 9.7 starters per race.

“We can't thank our owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers enough for supporting our meet,” Turfway Park's General Manager Chip Bach said. “Our team put together a competitive racing product that appealed to horseplayers nationwide. The positive feedback from the installation of our Tapeta surface was universal from trainers and jockeys. Through Churchill Downs Incorporated's continued investment to renovate Turfway Park, we are looking forward to the future of horse racing in Florence.”

Jockey Gerardo Corrales (177-40-27-23; $655,831) had a 23% win clip during the meet and led all riders. Trainer Wesley Ward's victory with Like the King in the $250,000 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks were among his 21 wins at the meet. Augustin Stable led the owner standings with eight wins through 20 starts.

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Turfway Park Posts 34.6 Percent Handle Increase In December Despite Three Fewer Race Dates

Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. delivered positive results in wagering and average field size during its 13-day Holiday Meet, which wrapped up a five-week run on Dec. 31.

Despite three fewer race dates compared to 2019, all-sources wagering at Turfway Park soared to $32.3 million, an $8.3 million jump and 34.6 percent increase from last year's $24.0 million. The average daily handle skyrocketed 65.6 percent from $1.5 million in 2019 to $2.48 million in 2020.

The average starters per race grew from 10.3 horses in 2019 to a strong 10.5 this year, which produced highly competitive racing over the track's newly-installed Tapeta synthetic surface. Installed during the summer of 2020, the new Tapeta surface has received positive reviews from horsemen and jockeys alike and has proven to be a fair and rewarding surface for horseplayers.

Gerardo Corrales (53-15-8-4—$226,928), who has ridden in the U.S. since 2015 after graduating from the Laffit Pincay Jockey Training Academy in his native Panama, earned his first Turfway Park riding title with 15 wins, four more than runner-up Albin Jimenez (56-11-9-4—$199,469). They were followed in the jockey standings by top money-earner Rafael Bejarano (60-10-14-10—$234,511), Chris Landeros (42-9-8-6—$219,045) and Santiago Gonzalez (35-7-5-2—$100,949).

Bill Morey (21-6-3-2—$127,900), who relocated to Kentucky from California last year, was the top trainer with six wins – one more than Wesley Ward (20-5-3-2—$101,169) – and also led all trainers in money-won. There was a five-way tie for third between Mike Maker (37-4-5-5—$97,508), Kenny McPeek (11-4-2-0—$78,879), Brad Cox (11-4-0-2—$78,430), Genaro Garcia (19-4-2-1—$58,045) and John Ortiz (11-4-0-0—$42,844).

Ten owners had two winners, including top money earner Gladys Campos' Campos Family Ventures LLC (8-2-3-0—$44,785).

Two horses won twice during the five-week stand: Prairie Bayou Stakes winner Set Piece (GB) (2-2-0-0—$41,740) and low-level claimer Drink (2-2-0-0—$12,600).

The Winter/Spring Meet at Turfway Park began Jan. 1 and will continue through March 28. Racing is conducted on a Thursday-Saturday schedule, although there is a special Wednesday, Jan. 6 program. The first race is 6:15 p.m. (all times Eastern) and most programs feature eight races. All Turfway Park races can be watched and wagered on TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks.

With increased interest by Kentucky horsemen and Churchill Downs Incorporated's investment and redevelopment of Turfway Park to enhance winter/spring racing on the Kentucky circuit, Turfway Park's Winter/Spring Meet features a nine-race, $1.045 million stakes schedule, including four stakes that will offer points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles has been repositioned to Saturday, March 27 and will offer 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (Top 4 Points: 100-40-20-10). Additionally, the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at 1 1/16 miles on Friday, Feb. 26 has been added as a “Prep Season” race (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1).

The $150,000 Boubonette Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on March 27 will feature 85 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (Top 4 Points: 50-20-10-5) and its prep race, the $65,000 Cincinnati Trophy at 6 ½ furlongs on Friday, Feb. 26 will be worth 17 points (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1).

As was the case during the Holiday Meet, Turfway Park's wagering menu will feature a 15 percent takeout 50-cent Pick 5 that starts in Race 1 each night as well as the 15 percent takeout 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot on Races 3-8. There are two 14 percent takeout 50-cent Pick 4 sequences on each card with the first offered on Races 2-5 and the second on Races 5-8.

Established in 1959 as Latonia, Turfway Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Northern Kentucky. The track hosts live racing from late fall through early spring, maintaining the winter dates for Kentucky's year-round live racing circuit, and offers simulcast wagering year-round. Turfway Park recently installed a new all-weather Tapeta synthetic racing surface in 2020 for live racing and has been home to the Jeff Ruby Steaks and Bourbonette Oaks, qualifying races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Turfway Park was purchased by Churchill Downs Incorporated in October 2019.

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