Horses exiting an in-the-money performance in a Grade 1 stakes don’t normally run next in a restricted stakes at Belterra Park. But the lineup of 12 Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies for Sunday’s $75,000 Tomboy Stakes includes Someday Soon, a close third in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 8.
Someday Soon was 1 1/4 lengths behind runner-up Daddys Lil Darling, who returned to finish second in last week’s Kentucky Oaks.
Like everyone in the 1 1/16-mile Tomboy except the maiden Riproaring, Someday Soon has never raced on turf. Her trainer, William Van Meter, is 0 for 11 with first-time turf runners. And her dam, Come Sunday, never ran on turf during a 25-race career in which she earned $270,845.
The field includes Nikki My Darling, who is 3 for 3 this season. In her lone outing beyond six furlongs, she was a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita last fall.
Tomboy, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Someday Soon, by Proud Citizen
Last 3 Beyers: 75-64-86
◗ One positive stat: Proud Citizen’s offspring are a collective 13 for 66 (20 percent) in turf routes for 3-year-olds.
Nikki My Darling, by Creative Cause
Last 3 Beyers: 74-69-64
◗ The foals from her dam, Zamindarling, are a combined 0 for 7 on turf. Trainer Jeff Radosevich did win last year’s Sydney Gendelman Memorial at Belterra with the first-time turf runner Dubacious.
Ali Blue, by Bluegrass Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 40-48-57
◗ She is a half-sister to the New York-bred Rockin Alli, who went 5 for 14 on turf. Trainer Tim Hamm won last year’s Green Carpet at Belterra with the first-time turf runner Bucket Beat.
Kiosk’s Cal, by Cowboy Cal
Last 3 Beyers: 43-20-24
◗ Won her 3-year-old debut sprinting over a sloppy track for trainer Doug Cowans, who won the 2015 Horizon with the first-time turf runner Blazing Charcoal. The trainer’s best finish by three first-time turf runners in the Tomboy was a distant second by 1-5 favorite Stamp Queen in 2012.
Mizz Quoted, by Mizzen Mast
Last 3 Beyers: 39-53-35
◗ She was the runner-up to Someday Soon in last fall’s John W. Galbreath Stakes in her only try going two turns. Trainer Bob Gorham is 3 for 14 (21 percent) with a high $6.58 return on investment with first-time turf runners stretching out, but he’s 0 for 4 in stakes with that move at Belterra.
