Northfield, OH – Racing For Three will try to become the first horse to repeat in the $75,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff on Saturday (June 7) at MGM Northfield Park.
While the victory in 2024 was sweet, her connections know there is a tall task in front of her.
“We drew outside this year, versus post two last year, things will be a lot different that’s for sure,” said trainer AJ Carlo. “Her winning last year was so amazing, it was the largest race we have ever won.”
Racing has become a family affair for the Carlos, who spend time working together to ensure that the stable operates like a well-oiled machine, but they also like to enjoy some time away from the races.
“We really enjoy our fun time as a family. My wife (Brittany) really loves Disney, but now that the two boys are getting older, I’m trying to turn her on to Universal,” joked Carlo.
Carlo admits things can get a little tense in the barn but says his wife Brittany is the glue that holds everything together.
“My wife is my rock; she tries her best to keep me balanced. She is exceptionally good at keeping me cool in tough situations,” said Carlo.
This year things will be more difficult for Racing For Three (Kayne Kauffman) due to the outside draw, last year she was able to save ground from post two and angle off the rail turning for home to win by a half-length.
On Saturday, she will be tasked with post seven, and although that will be a daunting task, the 5-year-old by Western Terror known as “boss” in the barn will have a lot of fight in her based on how she’s been training.
“She has been full of herself and had a great attitude this week,” laughed Carlo. “She is the boss of the barn, small but mighty, she has no idea how small she is, or at least she doesn’t act like she knows.”
Statistically she doesn’t realize how small she is, putting up big numbers in each of her first three years of racing with $334,580 in career earnings and sixteen wins.
Another difference between Racing For Three and some of her competition is that she has a friend in the barn with her, a goat, that has helped her mature into the mare she is today.
“At two and three she loved to dig, and the holes were so big you could bury a body in them. Her goat was the only thing that made her slow down, almost to a stop,” said Carlo.
While Carlo knows the task in front of them, they enters Saturday’s MGM Buckeye Distaff confident their mare will be up to the assignment.
“I wish she drew better, but that is the game we play, and it is what it is,” said Carlo. “I believe she is 5-0 on a half, she doesn’t mind the size of the track at all, she will be on her toes this weekend.”
Racing For Three enters Saturday’s Distaff off a third-place finish against conditioned company at Scioto Downs. She has been racing mostly in Southern Ohio against the sports best, holding her own hitting the board just shy of 50% of the time in her 5-year-old season.
“A win this weekend would definitely be worth a trip to Disney, but of course we would have to wait until the fall,” laughed a jubilant Carlo.
Racing for three will have to take on eight other foes including My Red Sea (Brett Miller), Beautiful Seaside (Chris Lems), Fearless Ginger (Chris Page), Tarapasta (Austin Hanners), Naked On A Hill (Aaron Merriman), No Foolin April (Jeremy Smith), Hey Hey Mama (Matt Kakaley), and Do It Like Bobbi (Dan Noble).
The Battle of Lake Erie program will have several great wagering opportunities including a $25,000 estimated Pick-4 pool beginning in Race 11 and a $20,000 estimated Super High-5 in Race 13, the MGM Buckeye Distaff.
Lady Luck’s Clubhouse will also be open on Saturday and will offer a buffet for $27.95. Reservations can be made by calling 330-467-4101.
Post time on Saturday is 6:00 p.m.