Following two consecutive stakes scores at Oaklawn Park to begin her 2023 campaign, Lovely Ride is winless in her last three starts. The string of losses has prompted trainer Robertino Diodoro to return the Candy Ride mare back to the turf in the May 29 $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes at Lone Star Park.
Campaigned in partnership by John Holleman, Flying P Stable, and Larry Nafe, Lovely Ride is no stranger to the grass, having captured the 2021 Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Though proficient on the lawn, she had been racing exclusively on the dirt since a seventh-place effort in the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes in March 2022.
With regular rider Christian Torres aboard, the 5-year-old, normally forwardly-placed, should be right up there to contend the early pace along with the local Lone Star-based Tipsy Gal , a frontrunning winner of a May 13 allowance optional claiming event in her most recent start, and Turfway Park shipper Takntothecleaners .
One that will be looking to catch Lovely Ride down the stretch is Juddmonte Farm’s European import Juncture . Trained by Brad Cox, Juncture flashed serious potential in Ireland, winning two stakes over the synthetic surface and placing in four other stakes on the turf, including three graded stakes. In her North American debut April 21 at Keeneland, the 4-year-old daughter of Dark Angel missed the break and despite being carried six-wide turning for home, closed to within two lengths of the winner under the wire in sixth place.
Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard Juncture in Monday’s one-mile affair.
Skelly Seeks Third Straight Stakes Win in Speightstown Sprint
The fleet-footed Skelly was the sprinter to be reckoned with the latter half of the Oaklawn meet, streaking to four straight six-furlong victories over the Hot Springs oval. In his two most recent outings, he dusted stakes company in gate-to-wire fashion in both the April 15 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and May 6 Lake Hamilton Stakes.
Skelly wires the field in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Skelly invades the Lone Star circuit as an overwhelming 8-5 morning line favorite in Monday’s $100,000 six-furlong Speightstown Sprint Stakes. The Red Lane Thoroughbreds’ colorbearer enlists the services of his steady pilot, Ricardo Santana Jr., and breaks from post 4 in a field of eight.
Although Skelly outgunned Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing’s Go West for frontrunning honors in their last meeting, a Feb. 25 allowance optional claimer in the slop at Oaklawn, Go West looks to be the most formidable challenge for the two-time stakes winner.
Go West has landed his last two races, both in allowance company, for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Entries: Ouija Board Distaff S.
Lone Star Park, Monday, May 29, 2023, Race 11
- STK
- 1m
- Turf
- $200,000
- 3 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 6:35 PM (local)
Entries: Speightstown Sprint S.
Lone Star Park, Monday, May 29, 2023, Race 7
- STK
- 6f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 3 yo’s & up
- 4:25 PM (local)
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