Don't Leave Me Flies Late in Bourbonette Win

Don't Leave Me rolled down the center of the track, past front-running favorites Sweet Success and Sharla Rae, and won the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks (gr. III) March 21 at Turfway Park . 

 

Jose Lezcano roused the Lemon Drop Kid   filly from fifth with a quarter mile to run and she willingly closed ground to wear down pacesetter and runner-up Sweet Success, and third-place finisher Sharla Rae, who pressed from second after the opening quarter.

 

The Pin Oak Stud homebred won by three-quarters of a length and was timed in 1:38.60 for the mile Polytrack contest that awarded 50 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) qualifying points to the winner. Don't Leave Me was not an early nominee to the Kentucky Oaks, thus she will not appear on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard unless she becomes eligible for the race for a $1,500 fee during the late nomination period, which closes April 8.

 

The Bourbonette Oaks marked the filly's 2015 bow and third win from four career starts after racing three times at Woodbine last year for trainer Malcolm Pierce. 

 

Don't Leave Me made a winning debut on the Woodbine's Polytrack August 2, and then followed up with an allowance victory on turf three weeks later, before checking in sixth in the Sept. 13 Natalma Stakes (Can-II), when she was bothered at the start, to conclude her juvenile campaign.

 

With 3-1 second choice Sharla Rae in behind, 2-1 favorite Sweet Success set fractions of :24.06, :47.84, and 1:12.87 for six furlongs before both yielded to the winner.

 

Don't Leave Me paid $13.20, $6.80, and $3.20, while Sweet Success returned $3.80 and $2.60, and Sharla Rae brought $3.20 to show. 

 

Harlan's Destiny, Urtheoneeyelove, Walking the Kitten, College Holly, Sweet On Smokey, Back Flip, Right On Kitten, and Uncontrolled completed the order of finish in the 12-filly field. 

 

Pin Oak's 2002 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) winner She How She Runs, a daughter of Maria's Mon, is the dam of Kentucky-bred Don't Leave Me and four other winners. She How She Runs is a half sister to Canadian champion turf male and U.S. graded stakes winner Hasten To Add.

 

Lezcano enjoyed three wins on the Turfway card, also taking the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) with Dubai Sky and the seventh race aboard Mygalsal.