22 Mzo. USA. Bourbonette Oaks S. G3. Turfway Park. 8f. AW. 150.000 $
1.- MAREN'S MEADOW (G.Saez)
2.- VALENTINE FEVER (J.Leparoux)
3.- A TO THE CROFT (R.Albarado)


Maren’s Meadow took the lead on the home turn and comfortably held back runner-up Valentine Fever to win the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Turfway Park.

River Ridge Ranch’s Maren’s Meadow won for the first time in three starts this year for trainer Larry Jones and entered off a runner-up finish in a division of the Martha Washington Stakes on February 17 at Oaklawn Park. She won two of five starts last year, although her campaign was interrupted in the fall at Delaware Park by the discovery of a small sponge that had been inserted deep into her nostril. Delaware state police investigated as an apparent race-fixing incident.

After surgery in October to remove the sponge, the Meadowlake filly won an allowance race at Fair Grounds to close the season.

Maren’s Meadow raced in third then second from along the rail as Love Buzz set a moderate tempo through a half-mile in :47.69 in the one-mile race. Maren’s Meadow easily reeled in that foe on the second turn, turned back a challenge from Downtown Drifter, and led by a two lengths in early stretch.

Maren’s Meadow held back a mild rally from Valentine Fever for a 1 1/4-length victory under Gabriel Saez.

Maren’s Meadow covered the distance in 1:38.15 in her first race on the all-weather Polytrack surface and earned her first stakes win.

Jones said Maren’s Meadow handled the synthetic surface well.

“She’s Canadian-bred, so we had several reasons for wanting to try her [on the Polytrack at Turfway],” Jones said. “I knew after two days of training at Keeneland [Race Course] she would handle the surface. I was on her myself."

A to the Croft, the 6-to-5 favorite, made her first start since an unplaced finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park on October 27. She raced near the back of the field early, bid on the second turn, and had no finishing kick.

Jones also is the trainer of Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls Proud Spell and Eight Belles. Jones will steer Maren’s Meadow, who is out of the Yukon mare Gold Liaka, clear of that pair and point her to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course on May 16, after which she most likely will be sent to Woodbine.