Horse Race Preview: Race 7 – Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes at Thistledown

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Race Overview

Race: 7 – Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes

Track: Thistledown Racino, North Randall, Ohio

Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025

Post Time: 3:50 PM ET

Distance: 6 furlongs (dirt)

Surface: Dirt

Purse: $75,000 (includes $26,250 from the Ohio Thoroughbred Fund)

Conditions: Fillies & Mares, 3‑year‑olds and up, registered Ohio‑breds

Field Analysis – Horses, Jockeys, Trainers & Pedigrees

1 – Lionistic (Animal Kingdom – Race Lady, by Bernardini)

Age/Sex: 6‑year‑old mare

Jockey: Erik Barbaran

Trainer: Jeffrey A. Radosevich

Owner: Annechino Racing, LLC

Breeder: Raimonde Farms LTD

Pedigree Notes: By Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, out of a Bernardini mare, Lionistic blends stamina influence with tactical speed.

Form & Style: A seasoned stakes competitor with tactical speed; capable of pressing the pace or stalking. Consistency at Thistledown makes her a live contender.

2 – City Scene (Dominus – Nava, by Even the Score)

Age/Sex: 4‑year‑old filly

Jockey: Luis Raul Rivera

Trainer: James R. Jackson

Owner/Breeder: Elkhorn Oaks, Inc.

Pedigree Notes: By Dominus, a sire known for producing sharp sprinters, and out of Nava, making her a half‑sister to Candlelight Hours.

Form & Style: Lightly raced but improving; has shown early speed and could be a pace factor from the break.

3 – Generous Lover (Bolt d’Oro – Hula Skirt, by Dixie Union)

Age/Sex: 5‑year‑old mare

Jockey: Willie Martinez

Trainer: Joe Sharp

Owner: Carl R. Moore Management LLC

Breeder: Smokin C LLC

Pedigree Notes: By Bolt d’Oro, a leading young sire, from a Dixie Union mare, suggesting a strong sprinting foundation.

Form & Style: Classy shipper with back class in open company; brings a strong late kick and could benefit from a hot pace.

4 – Sweet Unique (Free Drop Billy – Great Goin Rose, by Albert the Great)

Age/Sex: 5‑year‑old mare

Jockey: Noel Vigil

Trainer/Owner/Breeder: Nancy Lavrich

Pedigree Notes: By Free Drop Billy, a son of Union Rags, with a dam line that adds durability.

Form & Style: Lightly raced in stakes company; tends to settle mid‑pack and make one run. Needs pace help to threaten late.

5 – Candlelight Hours (Dominus – Nava, by Even the Score)

Age/Sex: 6‑year‑old mare

Jockey: T. D. Houghton

Trainer: James R. Jackson

Owner/Breeder: Elkhorn Oaks, Inc.

Pedigree Notes: Full sister to City Scene, with proven stakes credentials in Ohio‑bred company.

Form & Style: Multiple stakes winner with tactical versatility; proven over the Thistledown strip and a major player if she fires her best shot.

6 – Officially Yours (Tapiture – Officially, by Officer)

Age/Sex: 4‑year‑old filly

Jockey: Fernando Salazar Becerra

Trainer: Robert M. Gorham

Owner: Marion F. Gorham

Breeder: Robert M. Gorham

Pedigree Notes: By Tapiture, a sire known for producing durable, hard‑knocking runners, out of a mare by Officer, adding speed influence.

Form & Style: Consistent allowance performer stepping up to stakes company; could be a sleeper if pace collapses.

Pace & Tactical Analysis

With City Scene and Candlelight Hours both possessing sharp early foot, expect an honest to fast pace. Lionistic can sit just off the leaders, while Generous Lover and Sweet Unique will look to pounce in the lane. Officially Yours may track mid‑pack and try to grind into the exotics.

Key Storylines & Betting Angles

Sibling Rivalry: City Scene and Candlelight Hours are full sisters, both trained by James R. Jackson for Elkhorn Oaks, Inc.

Class Edge: Generous Lover brings open‑company experience and could outclass the field if she adapts to the local surface.

Local Specialists: Lionistic and Candlelight Hours have strong Thistledown records, a key factor in Ohio‑bred stakes.

Pedigree Power: The field features sires like Animal Kingdom, Bolt d’Oro, Tapiture, and Dominus, all with proven sprint progeny.