Woodslane Farm's well-traveled homebred Wolfie's Dynaghost returned to Turfway Park Saturday night and held off a late bid by Cellist to win the 28th running of the $125,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes.
Wolfie's Dynaghost, who triumphed in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic March 25 at the Northern Kentucky track, completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.51 under jockey Tyler Connor for trainer Jonathan Thomas.
The speedy Wolfie's Dynaghost had no early pace pressure as the field broke from the starting gate, and Connor was able to rate him through composed early fractions of :24.17 and :47.27 through a half mile. Around the far turn, Wolfie's Dynaghost extended his lead to two lengths while clocking six furlongs in 1:10.87. However, in the stretch, Wolfie's Dynaghost began to get leg weary and had to hold off the big, late strides of Cellist. Calling on all his reserves, he dug down deep and held off that rival by a head for the victory.
Wolfie's Dynaghost was well-backed in the wagering and closed as the heavy 4-5 favorite. He returned $3.98 for a $2 win wager. Runner-up Cellist finished 4¼ lengths in front of third-place finisher Hush of a Storm.
Like the King, who won the 2021 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), completed the superfecta and was followed in order by Kitodan, Tiz the Bomb, Leave It to Kitten, and Ocean Atlantique.
Wolfie's Dynaghost, who entered off a victory in the Autumn (G2) Nov. 5 at Woodbine, banked $74,814 for his victory in the Prairie Bayou to improve his overall earnings to a stout $923,719. His impressive career record stands at 25-10-2-5.
Kentucky-bred Wolfie's Dynaghost is a 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire.
Thomas reported Saturday morning on the Horse Racing Radio Network that Wolfie's Dynaghost would likely receive some time off before his 6-year-old campaign and could defend his title in the Kentucky Cup Classic.
Next year's Prairie Bayou Stakes was one of four local stakes contests that were upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee. The race will now be a Listed event along with the Big Daddy and Latonia Stakes. The Kentucky Cup Classic also received an upgrade from a Listed race to a Grade 3.
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