Booyah For You(KY) ekes out a thriller in Fantastic Ollie Handicap

Booyah For You(KY) just edged out Liberty Rain(IRE) at the wire to capture this week’s Fantastic Ollie Handicap. This was here first stakes win in her first stakes effort for new trainer cwjonez. The win was her third overall in ten starts, and gave a nice boost to her career earnings, bring them to a $59502 figure. The stakes win put her on the board among turf fillies, giving her a rank of 228 in the Turf Classic division, and 195 in the still very lightly raced Turf Long division. We saw some decent payouts at the betting window again this week, with the longshot winner paying $19.50 $10.40 $6.00 across the board. Exotics paid a decent price, as well, with the exacta paying $62.40 and a generous $498.20 in the trifecta.

Racer’s Pride(AUS) provided the early speed, but not without a challenge from Mr Dictaphone(KY) and Around Here(KY). They also had several horses right off their tales to assure the early pace. Racer’s Pride(AUS) managed to carve out a slim one length lead at the half. As they crossed the half pole, Racer’s Pride(AUS) began to stretch in out, and looked to be well in control as they headed into the stretch, holding onto a lead of just over two lengths. The deep closers really ramped it up coming down the stretch, though, with Booyah For You(KY) and Liberty Rain(IRE) flying past neck and neck about halfway down the stretch, driving for the wire. Neither of these fillies would give an inch, and in a near photo at the wire, Booyah For You(KY) was declared the winner by a head, though the actual finish appeared to be even closer. Barb’s Bankers(IRE) held her position just off the pace throughout the run, and finished third, a length and three quarters out at the wire.