Oscar Nominated (#5) captured the $500,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence. The win earned the colt a spot in the Kentucky Derby field on the first Saturday in May (photo by Mark Hansel).
By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
High winds forced a change of plans for many fans on Spiral Stakes day at Turfway Park in Florence, but the biggest, and most costly, adjustment may involve winning owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
The Ramseys, whose Oscar Nominated captured the $500,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (G3) , said the three year-old colt is headed to the Kentucky Derby, “one way or another.”
“We nominated eight horses to the Kentucky Derby, but we didn’t nominate this one,” Ken Ramsey said after Oscar Nominated upset the field to finish a neck in front of Azar in the 1 1-8 mile Spiral Stakes.
Surgical Strike, which won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in his previous start, finished another neck back in third.
Ken Ramsey (red vest) is all smiles after his colt, Oscar Nominated, wins the $500,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park Saturday. Ramsey said the colt is headed to the Kentucky Derby ‘one way or another.’ Photo by Mark Hansel
Eligibility won’t be the problem for Oscar Nominated, which collected 50 points for the Spiral Stakes victory, more than enough to assure entry into the Kentucky Derby field. Because the son of the Ramsey stallion Kitten’s Joy was not nominated for the Kentucky Derby, however, the owner will have to pay a substantial fee to supplement him into the race.
“He’ll be in the Derby if he comes out of the race well,” Ramsey said. “If someone wants to pay the $200,000 supplemental fee, we’ll split whatever I earn out of his next three races and he’ll go in the Preakness and the Belmont assuming everything is OK. I’m pretty optimistic about him.”
Trainer Mike Maker claimed Oscar nominated for the Ramseys for $75,000 out of race at Saratoga in October. The owner could have supplemented the colt for just $6,000 a few weeks ago, but after talking to Maker decided against it.
“Then (Maker) called four or five days ago and said, ‘You know we should have put this horse in. He is really coming around,’” Ken Ramsey said. “The Polytrack moved him up, I guess.”
Maker, who saddled four horses in the field of 12, liked his chances as the horses turned for home.
“I saw the white ‘R’ and the red cap and I didn’t know which one it was at first but I knew it was mine,” Maker said. “Oscar Nominated’s really been tipping his hand since he came back (from Fair Grounds).”
Robby Albarado was named to ride Oscar Nominated but Brian Hernandez Jr. picked up the mount and guided the colt to a hard-fought victory. Hernandez Jr. stalked the early leaders, looped the field in the second turn and outgamed a determined Azar, which raced wide for most of the race.
Turfway Park General Manager Chip Bach said it was great to see a group with such strong connections to the Northern Kentucky track capture its signature race.
“The Ramseys and Mike Maker are people that race with us all winter long and I couldn’t be more happy to see them in the winner’s circle,” Bach said.
The win also secured a leading owner title for the Ramseys and a leading trainer title for Maker at Turfway’s Spring Meet.
The win improved Oscar Nominated’s record to three wins and two seconds in seven starts. The $282,000 winner’s share of the Spiral Stakes purse boosted his earnings to $371,860. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Mrs. Jerry Amerman and is out of Devine Actress, a daughter of the Irish-bred Theatrical.
Horses are awarded points for eligible graded stakes races, which count toward Kentucky Derby eligibility. The 20 horses with the highest point totals are eligible for the Kentucky Derby and if one of those chooses not to run, the next horses on the list move up until the 20 spots are filled.
Other horses earning Kentucky Derby points included Azar (20 points), Surgical Strike (10), and Two Step Time, also trained by Maker, which got five for a fourth-place finish. All earned their first Kentucky Derby points and will likely have to race again and earn points to make the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Oscar Nominated paid $49.20, $18 and $11. Azar paid $9 and $6.40, while Surgical Strike returned $5.40.
Wind creates challenges for horses, fans, plumbing
Tami and Marc Wilson were among those who enjoyed Spiral Stakes day in the VIP tent until high winds forced patrons into the grandstand (photo by Vicki Prichard).
Gusting wind made for some tense moments throughout the day.
He’ll Pay, which won the Rushaway Stakes withstood a claim of foul after floating out in the stretch under left-handed urging. The owners attributed the trouble, in part, to strong winds which made it hard to handle the colt as he switched leads.
A portable toilet provided a moment of comic relief as the wind sent it on a ride toward the rail in front of the grandstand. Fortunately, the port-o-let, which tipped over just before reaching the rail, was unoccupied at the time.
The VIP tent had to be evacuated just before the stakes races began because high winds threatened the integrity of the temporary structure. Bach said track officials decide to err on the side of caution and bring patrons into the grandstand.
High winds sent a portable toilet on a wild ride in front of the grandstand.
“We can’t control the weather, but luckily everyone was able to get dinner and enjoy some of the races before we had to evacuate,” Bach said. “That was the recommendation of the fire marshal and the tent company and I’m not going to go against them. Other than that, I think we had a great experience here today and we’re excited about the winners going forward.”
Wonderment takes the Bourbonette Oaks
Wonderment, owned by Sherri McPeek’s Magdalena Racing and Chris Sterbenz, captured the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G 3) and picked up 50 Kentucky Oaks points.
Jockey Cornelio Velasquez hustled gave the horse a masterful ride and drew off in the stretch, beating inconclusive by nearly four lengths. Velasquez hustled the three-year-old filly out of the gate and took an early lead with a quick first half mile. He then gave her a breather with a :26 third quarter and drew off from the field in the stretch.
The connections of Bourbonette Oaks winner Wonderment pose for a photo in the winner’s circle at Turfway Park Saturday (photo by Mark Hansel).
Favored Marquis Miss finished third.
Alan Shell, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek, praised Velasquez for the ride on Wonderment.
“That third quarter he really slowed her down and when they turned for home, I started walking to the winner’s circle,” Shell said.
Shell is not sure what is next for the daughter of Cosmonaut, who now has enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, but said the filly continues to improve.
“Her last race she was really sharp and her gallops have just been stronger and stronger and her breezes have been so sharp,” Shell said. We felt confident she was going to stretch out and like the route of ground.”
Wonderment was the co-second choice and paid $10, $5.60 and $3.40. Inconclusive paid $8.80 and $4.80 and Marquee Miss returned $3.20 to show.
Mark Hansel is managing editor of the Northern Kentucky Tribune. Contact him at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
