Fioretti, winner of the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) at Keeneland two starts back, returns to Turfway Park Saturday to head the 30th running of the Holiday Inaugural Stakes. The 5-year-old mare raced three times at Turfway last winter, winning twice. She faces 10 rival fillies and mares in the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural, run at 6 furlongs over Polytrack.
In her last start, the Twin Spires Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Fioretti went off the second-longest shot and finished well off the board after breaking from the rail and racing within striking distance to the turn. She will break from post 10 in the Holiday Inaugural under jockey Sophie Doyle. Anthony Hamilton Jr. trains.
Fioretti sat off the pace to get her Grade 2 win and may do so again behind Harlan’s Honor, who breaks to her inside, and Donita’s Ruler, who may get the jump on both from post four. Harlan’s Honor notably gets the services of jockey Jon Court and comes in off a turf win at Belmont Park. Donita’s Ruler finished in a dead heat in the Mahoning Valley Distaff Stakes on Nov. 23, jointly 8-1/4 lengths the best though disqualified to second after drifting out late. Walter De La Cruz rides Donita’s Ruler for trainer Matt Kordenbrock. Harlan’s Honor is trained by Eduardo Caramori. The Holiday Inaugural will be the first start on an all-weather surface for both.
Aireofdistinction has the distinction of being a first-off-the-claim starter for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who are as astute at the claiming game as they are at Grade 1 wins. Mike Maker trains.
Trainer Wesley Ward returns Spanish Pipedream to competition for the first time since April. The 3-year-old filly won the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway in February.
The field for the Holiday Inaugural from the rail out: Cactus Joe (jockey Orlando Mojica, 124 lbs.); Tippie Tap (Didiel Osorio, 120); Determined Yankee (Alejandro Contreras, 120); Donita’s Ruler (De La Cruz, 124); Spanish Pipedream (Albin Jimenez, 123); Tetrad (Rafael Mojica Jr., 119); Rachel’s Ready (Rodney Prescott, 119); Swept Ashore (Thomas Pompell, 119); Harlan’s Honor (Court, 119); Fioretti (Doyle, 124); and Aireofdistinction (Carlos Marquez Jr., 120).
The Holiday Inaugural is the sixth of nine races on Turfway’s Saturday card. First post is 6:15 p.m. ET.