Go Noni Go captures Bourbonette Oaks

Mar 17, 2018 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Go Noni Go proved too good for her seven rivals in Saturday’s $101,600 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway Park, taking the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race by two lengths for trainer Mike Maker.

Campaigned by Three Diamonds Farm, the dark bay daughter of Get Stormy earned 20 points toward a starting berth in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and makes her debut on the Oaks Leaderboard.

Go Noni Go finished a mile in 1:39.09 over the synthetic Polytrack with jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard. She returned $9.60 as the 7-2 third choice.

The Bourbonette Oaks awarded 20-8-4-2 points to the respective top four finishers for a spot in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate. In the Mood took second, and eight points, by a neck over Homemade Salsa, who garnered four points for finishing seven lengths in front of Hey Negrita on the wire.

Consolida, Mo Flash, Bet She Wins and Queen’s Fate completed the order of finish.

Go Noni Go was making her all-weather debut in this spot after beginning her career at Churchill Downs last May. She was unable to factor in two races under the Twin Spires but broke her maiden by 4 1/2 lengths when switching to the turf at Ellis Park in early July. Two races after finishing third in the Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs, the dark bay miss closed out 2017 with a six-length victory against allowance/optional claiming foes at Gulfstream Park.

She remained over Gulfstream’s grass when opening her sophomore season with a fifth-place run last out in the Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3) on February 3, and now shows a 9-3-1-1, $161,865 career mark.

Bred in Kentucky by David E. Hager II, Go Noni Go is out of the Perfect Soul mare Lady Larkspur.

BOURBONETTE OAKS QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey Go Noni Go, winner

“I’ve ridden her before and I’m happy we finally got her a stakes win. Everything went as planned. She broke well today, she relaxed, and that was the main thing. Mike and his team did a great job getting her ready for today’s race.”

Mike Maker, trainer Go Noni Go, winner

“She ran a great race last time out at Gulfstream Park, that stakes race (the Sweetest Chant), but she was in a little bit over her head. We flirted with the idea of running her on dirt but decided to try the Polytrack. And now she’s a stakes winner! She’s a very slight filly, she struggles with keeping weight on, but she’s easy to train.”

John McKee, jockey In the Mood, second

“She ran great. The trainer (Stephen Sandy) did a great job. She was a little keen early. I wish she wouldn’t have turned off for me down the backside. She ran her heart out. She finished strong. She just came up a little short today. I have a lot of confidence in the filly. I think she has a lot of ability and talent. The last three times I rode her, she’s put her heart out for me. I just got beat by a better horse.”