Turnerloose gets up late in Rachel Alexandra
Feb 20, 2022
Switching tactics and making a seamless transition to dirt, Turnerloose joined the Kentucky Oaks
(G1) picture by winning Saturday’s $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair
Grounds. The Brad Cox-trained filly rallied to catch Goddess of Fire in deep
stretch, scoring by a half-length with Florent Geroux.
Nine of the last 25 Kentucky Oaks winners competed in the
Rachel Alexandra, and Turnerloose virtually ensured herself a berth in the Run for the Lillies, earning 50 points for taking the Road to the
Kentucky Oaks qualifier.
Owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, Turnerloose made her first
four starts on turf, winning the Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs and
finishing a neck third in the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland, and she switched to
the main track following a last-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar.
The daughter of Nyquist rated off the pace for the first time,
settling a few lengths back in fourth down the backstretch, and Turnerloose was
still fifth leaving the far turn.
Hidden Connection, the 2-1 favorite, had taken over
frontrunning duties when early pacesetter La Crete was pulled up after the
opening half-mile, and led by about a length entering the stretch, but Hidden
Connection gave way to Goddess of Fire, who surged to take a short lead in the
final furlong.
Overlooked at 17-1, Turnerloose was angled out for clear
sailing in upper stretch, and she steadily wore down Goddess of Fire in the
latter stages, getting up to win in the shadow of the wire. The dark bay completed
1 1/16 miles in 1:44.22.
Goddess of Fire, who was exiting a close second in the Jan.
15 Gasparilla S. at Tampa Bay Downs for Todd Pletcher, held second by about
three lengths at 15-1. Awake at Midnyte edged Hidden Connection in the final
strides for third, and Miss Mattie B, Dream Lith, North County, Candy Raid,
Divine Huntress, and California Angel came next under the wire. La Crete was vanned off.
Bred in Kentucky by William Humphries and Altair Farms,
Turnerloose was purchased for $50,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling
sale. She hails from of the A.P. Indy mare Goaltending, who is out of the Grade
1-winning Game Face.
Turnerloose increased her earnings to $531,300 from a
5-3-0-1 record.
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