Godolphin’s Encino seized control from the break and never looked back, powering to a gate-to-wire victory in Sunday’s 30th running of the $247,250 Prairie Bayou Stakes (Listed) on Synthetic Championships Day at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
The Prairie Bayou was Encino’s seventh-career victory and third win over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park. He was ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Brad Cox.
Prat hustled Encino from gate No. 8 of 9 to establish position into the first turn. He set an opening quarter-mile in a composed :24.33 and half-mile in :47.95. Around the far turn, Horsepower, who was tracking a length behind Encino in second, attempted to cut into his lead but could not make up enough ground and ultimately finished 1 ½ lengths behind.
“He’s a very classy horse and clearly loves this racetrack,” Cox’s local assistant Trace Messina said. “It’s a quick run into the turn but Flavien did a great job to get from the outside to the rail. You could tell he was traveling very well the entire time.”
Cameo Performance, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, finished third. He was followed by Naptown, Wagstaff, Best Actor, Otago, Chiron and Surly Furious.
Encino earned $149,040 for his victory in the Prairie Bayou to boost his career mark to $801,710. A 4-year-old son of Nyquist, Encino is out of the Bernardini mare Glittering Jewel. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner.
Sent off as the heavy 3-5 favorite, Encino returned his backers $3.36.
Live racing at Turfway Park will resume Friday and Saturday for the last two days of the Holiday Meet. The Winter/Spring Meet will begin Thursday, Jan. 1.
For the latest information on racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
Unedited Press Release by Kevin Kerstein – Turfway Park
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