From the Turfway Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

DANA’S BEAUTY GOES GATE-TO-WIRE IN $250,000 LATONIA STAKES

It was a little more pressure for jockey Jose Ortiz to ride Dana’s Beauty in Saturday’s 42nd running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. Owned by his wife, Taylor Ortiz’ ownership Magic Oaks, Dana’s Beauty pulled a shocking 20-1 upset victory, taking the field gate-to-wire while defeating heavy favoriteBotanical.

Trained by Joe Sharp, Dana’s Beauty completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.96.

The storyline going into the Latonia was heavy even-money favorite Botanical attempting to win her sixth race at Turfway Park. Botanical was tracking Dana’s Beauty for much of the race while completing quarter-mile fractions of :24.69 and :49.56. Following three-quarters in 1:13.92, Dana’s Beauty began to extend her lead over Botanical who was under an all-out drive to keep position. As Dana’s Beauty continued into the stretch, she powered clear from her rivals for a 2 ¾ length victory.

Chop Chop was able to complete the exacta, finishing one-length clear of Forever After All. They were followed by Sister Lou Ann, Botanical, Present Moment (IRE), Hurry Up Hannah, Marksman Queen (GB), Fancy Martini and Eyes of Gold.

 “I’ve ridden her in the past at Presque Isle Downs and I think she does her best running on the lead,” Ortiz said. “She broke pretty sharp and I was able to get a clear lead and she traveled strongly the entire way around there. It was fun to win for my wife. This is a very nice mare.”

Dana’s Beauty lit up the tote board paying $43.14 to win, $12.92 to place and $7.80 to show. Chop Chop, under Axel Concepcion, returned $4.28 and $2.92. Forever After All, piloted by Adam Beschizza, paid $7.32.

The Latonia was Dana’s Beauty’s eighth-lifetime score from 37 starts. The 6-year-old daughter of Not This Time improved her overall earnings to $428,167.

TRIKARI DIGS DOWN DEEP TO WIN $250,000 RUSHAWAY STAKES

Amerman Racing’s Trikari sat a perfect trip under jockey Umberto Rispoli and dug down deep to win Saturday’s $37th running of the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Graham Motion, Trikari completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.79.

Tireless led the field of 12 3-year-olds into the first turn while comfortably completing a quarter-mile in :24.84. Up the backstretch, Tireless continued to rate comfortably on the lead while Rispoli positioned Trikari to his outside in third, only a length off the lead. At the half-mile pole, Footprint and Julien Leparoux began to put pressure on Tireless while completing a pedestrian half-mile in :49.73. As the field turned for the stretch, Tireless’ lead began to diminish with Trikari striking the front and engaging with Footprint to his outside. In deep stretch, Trikari and Footprint continued their battle with Twirling Pointfinding his best stride inside the sixteenth pole. At the wire, Trikari got the better of Footprint to win the Rushaway by a neck.

Footprint finished just one-length back in third to complete the top 3. Break Out checked in fourth followed by Mikealicious, Tireless, Ode to Balius, Mugatu, Le Gris, Karlwithanarl and Two Ghosts.

Trikari, who shipped to Turfway from Gulfstream Park, earned $147,420 for his second-lifetime victory. The son of Oscar Performance was bred in Kentucky by Michael A Slezak and Amy Boll.

Sent to post at odds of 4-1, Trikari paid $2 mutuel prices of $10.82, $6 and $3.98. Footprint and Julien Leparoux returned $5.90 and $3.70 with Twirling Point and Frankie Dettori paying $3.14.

OKIRO SURGES LATE TO WIN $250,000 ANIMAL KINGDOM STAKES

Yutaka Enterprises Corp.’s South Florida shipper Okiro invaded Turfway Park with a storm by surging late down the lane to win Saturday’s 38th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Jose Garoffalo, Okiro completed the 6 ½ furlong Animal Kingdom Stakes in a swift 1:09.80.

The speedy Joe Shiesty took the early command of the Animal Kingdom Stakes and opened up a clear lead over Smokey Smokey up the backside by completing a quarter-mile in :21.82. While Joe Shiesty was running off on the front end, Okiro sat in a comfortable spot in sixth. Around the far turn, after Joe Shiesty tore through a half-mile in :44.74, Leparoux began to ask Okiro for his best run. As Joe Shiesty hit the top of the lane, his stride began to shorten with Smokey Smokey overtaking his lead inside the eighth-pole. In deep stretch, Okiro powered to the outside of Smokey Smokey and drew clear by 2 ¼ lengths.

Smokey Smokey had to dig in late to be in a dead heat for second with the late-closing Shards. The duo was 1 ¾ lengths clear of Valentine Candy who was followed by Joe Shiesty, Vote No, Vinsanity, Tejon Pass and Cool in Blue.

Okiro, now a three-time winning son of Yoshida (JPN) paid $19.82, $8.88 and $6.26. Smokey Smokey, under Luis Saez, returned $6.92 and $7.34 while Shards and jockey Adam Beschizza paid $4.06 and $4.72.

Okiro banked $149,280 for his victory in the Animal Kingdom to bring his career mark to a stout $238,960.