GALLOPPING OUT

On Friday, Megan headed to Cincinnati as Countess Colette went to post in the $75,000 Miss Southern Ohio Stakes. Opportunities are few, and far between when it comes to turf racing for Ohio-breds. Belterra Park (aka River Downs) is the only track in Ohio with a turf course, your horse needs to fit the conditions of the race and you have to pray it doesn’t rain that week! With rare chances to establish if your horse likes the grass, these races are wide open affairs.

Watching the first half of the 1 1/16-mile event for Accredited-breds, it surely appeared that Countess Colette wanted no part of the scorched earth footing as she choose to remain last in the field of nine. 1/5 favorite Parlay, 2 for 2 on the grass, led the field. Maybe Countess Colette liked the tight turn, or finally accepted the surface change, but a light went on and David Haldar shot her down to the rail and she rallied like her tail was on fire. Our 22-1 shot finished fourth, 1 1⁄4 lengths behind upset winner Green Lady. The check for fourth put the Mapleton-bred over the $100,000 mark and her effort looks to have set her up for a strong meeting at Mahoning.