Karen Schaeffer’s Goldberry earned her first black type win Friday, taking the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway Park by 1 ¼ lengths over Natural Wonder. Dreamin was another length back in third in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
With Rogelio Mirando aboard, Goldberry was third in the early going but just half a length off the :22.17 pace set by Glamanation for the first quarter. Goldberry kept up that hot pace after taking the lead, clocking the half-mile in :44.74 and five furlongs in :57.05 before finishing in 1:09.92.
“We tried something new with her,” said winning trainer Marco Castaneda. “I think we made a mistake with her last time, chasing the speed (when she was third in a Churchill Downs allowance). So we took her back just a little bit, got her to relax, and she did really well, responded pretty good. I think she can go longer, too, if we get her to relax a little bit.”
Off at 5-1 as second choice, Goldberry paid $12.80, $6.60 and $5.
Parol was fourth, followed by Go Lady Jay, Miss Gossip, the 3-1 favorite In the Mood, Grand Prix, Picante Caliente, Glamanation and Country Chick. Melaleuca was scratched by her trainer. Bizzee Mischief and Miss O’Hara did not draw in and were scratched.
By War Chant out of Gush, by Empire Maker, 4-year-old Goldberry was bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings Limited. Her record now stands at five wins and three thirds from 10 starts with purse earnings of $128,425.
Battaglia’s Saturday picks
Turfway Park’s Mike Battaglia provides daily selections and comments for the Tribune during the live racing meets.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 (Preview)
Race 1
SUPER BOUND just won at this level and looks like a solid bet to make it two in a row with Rodney Prescott back aboard for Mike Maker. AGGRO CRAG drops in class and figures second best. TWINKLING KNIGHT could run well off the layoff.
Race 2
TRAPPE VALLEY comes off a couple of dull efforts but has been in the money in five of his nine races this year. He drops to the bottom and looks best against this bunch. TIZ FUNNY is the one to beat for Jeff Barkley and Johnny McKee, who teamed up to win one on opening night. DURRETT LANE fits in here.
Race 3
WINTER RAIN has been off since March but Darrin Miller is good with returning runners. NATIONAL PRIDE and STEFAN O’EISHEN both drop in class.
Race 4
B DEB’S FORTUNE has the speed to be on or near the lead and could be tough to catch with Lebron picking up the mount. SOLDAT HOUSE comes off a couple of good races on the Delaware turf course and is the one to beat if she handles the Poly. KLASSIE CONNECT is a contender.
Race 5
SNOW LEOPARD takes a big class drop, which is never a good sign, but anything close to his best would make him an easy winner against this field. MARK MY WAY has been running well on the bottom at Churchill and looks like the one to beat. WALKING STICK also takes the class drop and has to be respected.
Race 6
SASSY KING didn’t show much last out at Keeneland but has run a couple of decent races and looks best in a well matched maiden test. CARDIAC KITTEN debuts for Wes Ward. He has been training steadily and figures to be ready to run well. BLUE MESA has the speed to be dangerous.
Race 7
TORAZO comes off an impressive score at Churchill and has won three of six here at Turfway. He should be rallying from just off what figures to be an honest pace and looks like a good bet to make it two in a row. ZAMBIAN prefers more distance but has won sprinting in the past and he figures to be running late in here. TOUGH STUFF needed his last couple of races and can show big improvement tonight.
Race 8
WARLEGGAN has run well on the Poly at Arlington and rates the edge in this bottom claimer. ARCHANGEL ROSE comes off a winning effort in Indiana and figures to be running late in a race that has plenty of early speed. PERFECT COMIC ran poorly last out but owns a win over this track and is a contender.