(Wolfie’s Dynaghost captures the Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday night / Coady Photography)

From the Turfway Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST GOES GATE-TO-WIRE IN $125,000 PRAIRIE BAYOU STAKES

Woodslane Farm’s well-traveled Grade II winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost returned to Turfway Park Saturday night and held off a late bid of Cellist to win the 28thrunning of the $125,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes.

Wolfie’s Dynaghost, who triumphed earlier this year in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic, completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.51 under jockey Tyler Connor for trainer Jonathan Thomas.

The speedy Wolfie’s Dynaghost had no early pace pressure as the field broke from the starting gate and Connor was able to rate Wolfie’s Dynaghost through composed early quarter-mile fractions of :24.17 and :47.27. Around the far turn, Wolfie’s Dynaghost extended his lead to two lengths while clipping through six furlongs in 1:10.87. However, in the stretch, Wolfie’s Dynaghost began to get leg weary and had to hold off the big, late strides of Cellist. Wolfie’s Dynaghost was able to dig down deep and held off his rival by a final margin of a head.

Wolfie’s Dynaghost was well-backed in the wagering and closed as the heavy 4-5 favorite. He returned $2 mutuels of $3.98, $2.98 and $2.58. Cellest, under Martin Garcia, paid $7.14 and $3.76. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Hush of a Storm in third who returned $3.56.

Like the King, who won the 2021 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), completed the superfecta and was followed in order by Kitodan, Tiz the Bomb, Leave It to Kitten and Ocean Atlantique.

Wolfie’s Dynaghost banked $74,814 for his victory in the Prairie Bayou to improve his overall earnings to a stout $923,719. His impressive career record stands at 25-10-2-5.

Wolfie’s Dynaghost is a 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner.

Thomas reported Saturday morning on the Horse Racing Radio Network that Wolfie’s Dynaghost would likely receive some time off before his 6-year-old campaign and could defend his title in the Kentucky Cup Classic.

Next year’s Prairie Bayou Stakes was one of four local stakes contests that were upgraded from the American Graded Stakes Committee. The race will now be a Listed event along with the Big Daddy and Latonia Stakes. The Kentucky Cup Classic also received an upgrade from a Listed race to a Grade III.