Timeless Fashion registered a repeat victory in the $50,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park Dec. 18 after getting the best of a thrilling three-way photo over Stately Victor and Ordination (VIDEO).
After a furious closing half-furlong, 4-5 choice Stately Victor came up a nose short of Timeless Fashion and a head in front of Ordination. The winning time was 1:53.04 for the 1 1/8-mile event over a fast track.
Get Rich Quick and Dynamite Bob dueled for the lead after breaking from the two outside posts, eventually leading the field by three lengths down the backstretch. With regular jockey James Lopez aboard, Timeless Fashion rated nicely in third with Stately Victor just to his outside in fourth and Ordination to his inside in fifth.
Heading into the final turn, the leaders gave way as Timeless Fashion, Stately Victor, and Ordination advanced for the stretch duel. Ordination, along the inside, had the lead by one length with a furlong to go, a fact that might have meant the difference for Timeless Fashion, who finished best between horses at the wire.
“(Ordination) was tough to get by,” said Lopez. “(Timeless Fashion) is a gutty little horse. If there’s a horse in front of him, he’ll go after him. He’ll give you anything you want.”
That extra effort nearing the wire gave Timeless Fashion the momentum to hold off Stately Victor, who was forced wide inside the three-sixteenths pole before rallying under jockey Michael Baze with a terrific late run.
“James put (Timeless Fashion) in a spot to win and did everything by the book that you possibly could,” said winning trainer Tom Drury. “The horse on the inside (Ordination), he looked like was going to kick on, and from the three-sixteenths pole to the sixteenth, you could see we were coming back. But Mike Maker’s horse (Stately Victor) ran huge and he’s got plenty of run. I’m just glad we got the head-bob.”
Drury was wearing a University of Texas cap in memory of Justin Vitek, who rode Timeless Fashion in his first two races before leukemia halted the jockey’s career. Vitek died in January.
“We got beat a head at Mountaineer (in the Labor Day Stakes), so I bought a Texas ball cap in memory of Justin,” Drury said. “Justin’s sister called and said, ‘That’s not going to work; you need a real Justin hat.’ She sent me this one. It belonged to Justin and today’s the first time I’ve worn it.”
Get Rich Quick got the first quarter in :24.44, Dynamite Bob the second in :48.47, and Get Rick Quick the third in 1:13.44 before both gave way to Ordination, who timed the mile in 1:39.56.
Mint Chip, L J's Way, Wealth to Me, Your Round, Dynamite Bob, Mr Maccool, Stream Cat, and Get Rich Quick followed. Cursesandblessings, Hurta, and Plutonium scratched.
Timeless Fashion is owned by R-Cher Family Farms and Judy Miller. From 21 starts, all on turf or all-weather surfaces, the 6-year-old son of Sky Classic--Added Ruffles, by Formal Gold, has 10 wins (including six stakes), four seconds, and two thirds and career earnings of $384,467. David E. Hager II bred the bay gelding.
The second choice carried top weight of 124 pounds and paid $9.80, $3.80 and $3.20. Stately Victor returned $2.60 and $2.40 and completed a $26 exacta. Ordination, with Dean Mernagh aboard, was $3.20 to show.
Timeless Fashion (center #5) outfinishes Stately Victor (right) and Ordination to win the Prairie Bayou.
Pat Lang Photography/Jason Stewart