The $175.000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes headlines the stakes action at Turfway Park on Friday February 20, 2026, presenting a one-mile test on the main dirt track for three-year-old fillies seeking valuable Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. This historic stakes event has crowned numerous talented runners since its inception in 2010, including recent winners Intimate (2025), All Nighter (2024), and Alice Springs (2023). Among connections with previous success, D J C Racing Stables has won twice (2013, 2021) and fields Onyx Blaze seeking to add a third victory to their tally. The race carries weight penalties for graded stakes winners and recent stakes winners, adding an interesting wrinkle to the competitive dynamics. The field of eight three-year-old fillies presents a compelling mix of lightly raced prospects and battle-tested competitors, each seeking to add their names to this prestigious list of winners and earn crucial Kentucky Oaks qualifying points as the Road to the Kentucky Oaks intensifies.

Horse-by-Horse Analysis

Extra Red represents The Sidley Stud with Paco Lopez (15/1 odds) in the irons. This bay three-year-old filly by Extra Tech has won one of three career starts while earning $9.900, posting her best speed figure of 88. Her most recent outing on December 20 at Fair Grounds saw her finish tenth in the $100.000 Untapable Stakes at 170 yards, carrying 121 pounds and beaten three lengths. Prior to that on November 11, she won a New York-bred maiden special weight at Monmouth Park at 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf by one length. Earlier on October 4, she finished sixth at Belterra Park at six furlongs in maiden special weight company. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a one-mile work in 1:37.3 at Parx Racing on January 21. While she’s shown quality form with her maiden victory, her disappointing Untapable Stakes effort and lack of route racing experience beyond that one start raise questions about whether she can compete with proven runners at this level.

Advantage Point represents Maletto with Alberto Rodriguez (20/1 odds) guiding this gray three-year-old filly by Tactical Advantage. With one win and one second from three career starts and earnings of $25.730, she enters off a fourth-place finish on December 30 in the $75.000 Pennsylvania-bred Miss Becky Stakes at Parx Racing at six furlongs, carrying 121 pounds. Prior to that on November 26, she won a Pennsylvania-bred maiden special weight at Parx Racing at 170 yards by two lengths on good turf. Earlier on October 28, she finished second by 3/4 lengths at Parx Racing at 170 yards in Pennsylvania-bred maiden special weight company. Her recent workouts show modest preparation, including a five-furlong work in :59 at Parx Racing on January 11. While she’s shown improvement with her maiden victory, her modest speed figures and lack of open company experience raise significant questions about whether she can compete against this competitive field.

Cailleach represents Jerry Garcia Racing with Florent Geroux (8/1 odds) aboard this bay three-year-old filly by Winter Book. With one win and two thirds from five career starts and earnings of $51.920, she enters off a third-place finish on January 17 in the $150.000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds at 170 yards, carrying 122 pounds. Prior to that on December 21, she finished third at Fair Grounds at one mile on turf in claiming company. Earlier on November 13, she won a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs at six furlongs by one length. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a six-furlong work in 1:12.1 at Turfway Park on February 11. Her proven stakes form with her Silverbulletday Stakes placing and maiden victory demonstrate quality, though her modest speed figures and limited route racing experience raise questions about whether she can handle this competitive assignment.

Cross Stitch represents Mb Stables with Johnny Velazquez (6/1 odds) riding this bay three-year-old filly by Apples To Oranges. With one win from two career starts and earnings of $27.000, she enters off a victory on January 24 at Turfway Park at one mile by 3/4 lengths in maiden special weight company, carrying 122 pounds and posting an 89 SRF figure. Prior to that on October 10, she finished seventh at Santa Anita at seven furlongs in a California-bred maiden special weight. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a six-furlong work in 1:11 at Aqueduct on February 13. While she’s shown quality form with her recent Turfway Park course-and-distance maiden victory, her limited racing experience with just two career starts and lack of stakes experience raise questions about whether she can compete with proven stakes runners.

Neon Party represents Nakamura Stables with Ivan Castillo (10/1 odds) guiding this gray three-year-old filly by Neon Corvette. With two wins, one second, and one third from four career starts and earnings of $25.400, she brings solid credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on January 17 at Houston saw her win at 1 1/16 miles on turf by 1/2 lengths in allowance company, carrying 120 pounds. Prior to that on December 20, she won a maiden special weight at Belterra Park at one mile on turf by three lengths. Earlier on November 29, she finished second at Tampa Bay Downs at five furlongs on turf in maiden special weight company. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a six-furlong work in 1:11 at Turfway Park on February 16. While she’s shown quality form with consecutive victories, all of her racing experience has come on turf, and she makes her dirt debut in this assignment, which raises major questions about surface versatility.

Onyx Blaze represents D J C Racing Stables with David Centeno (12/1 odds) aboard this bay three-year-old filly by Local Hero. With one win from two career starts and earnings of $15.000, she enters off a victory on January 23 at Tampa Bay Downs at seven furlongs by one length in maiden special weight company, carrying 120 pounds and posting a 92 SRF figure. Prior to that on October 28, she finished ninth at Finger Lakes at 5 1/2 furlongs in a New York-bred maiden special weight. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a six-furlong work in 1:10.4 at Turfway Park on February 2. While she’s shown improvement with her recent Tampa Bay Downs victory and impressive 92 SRF figure, her limited racing experience with just two career starts and lack of both route racing and stakes experience raise questions about whether she can compete with proven runners.

Lady de Ville represents Night Rider Stables with Kerwin Carmouche (25/1 odds) riding this bay three-year-old filly by Sinissippi Rubicon. With one win and two seconds from five career starts and earnings of $4.360, she enters off a fourth-place finish on January 14 at Belterra Park at one mile in allowance company, carrying 119 pounds after being claimed for $5.000. Prior to that on December 18, she won at Belterra Park at five furlongs on yielding turf by two lengths in maiden claiming company. Earlier she finished second twice at Belterra Park at five furlongs on turf in maiden company. Her recent workouts show modest preparation, including a five-furlong work in :59.2 at Turfway Park on February 17. While she’s shown some ability with her maiden victory, most of her success has come on turf rather than dirt, and her modest speed figures and complete lack of stakes experience suggest she faces a major challenge against this competitive field.

Bunny Connection represents Nakamura Stables with Rafael Bejarano (2/1 odds) completing the field for this bay three-year-old filly by The Connection. With three wins from three career starts and earnings of $44.400, she brings exceptional credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on January 25 at Gulfstream Park saw her win at one mile by a head in optional claiming company, carrying 121 pounds and posting a 92 SRF figure. Prior to that on January 1, she won at Turf Paradise at one mile by 1/4 lengths in optional claiming company. Earlier on November 4, she won a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park at one mile by seven lengths. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a six-furlong work in 1:11.1 at Santa Anita on February 4. Her perfect 3-for-3 record with all three victories coming at one mile demonstrates remarkable consistency and proven effectiveness at this exact distance, making her a serious threat despite facing her first stakes assignment.

Pace Scenario and Prediction

The pace structure should develop with Extra Red, Advantage Point, and Cross Stitch likely battling for the early lead, all having demonstrated consistent gate speed in their limited racing experience. Bunny Connection, Onyx Blaze, and Cailleach have shown tactical speed to stalk just behind the leaders, while Neon Party and Lady de Ville will likely settle in mid-pack or come from off the pace before attempting their late rallies.

The projected winner is Bunny Connection, who brings the best combination of proven route racing experience, consistent form, and tactical versatility to this assignment. Her perfect 3-for-3 record with all three victories coming at one mile demonstrates remarkable effectiveness at this exact distance, and her proven ability to handle both front-running and stalking tactics gives Bejarano multiple options in the race. The daughter of The Connection has progressed steadily through the ranks, graduating from maiden special weight to optional claiming company while maintaining consistent SRF figures in the low 90s. While she faces her first stakes assignment here, her recent victory at Gulfstream Park against quality optional claiming competition suggests she’s ready for the step up in class. With Bejarano able to position her perfectly in the early stages before unleashing her finishing kick, Bunny Connection should have every opportunity to capture her fourth consecutive victory and earn crucial Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. Cross Stitch appears the most dangerous threat with her recent course-and-distance maiden victory and the significant advantage of Johnny Velazquez in the saddle, though her limited experience with just two career starts raises concerns. Cailleach could factor with her proven stakes form and Silverbulletday Stakes placing, while Onyx Blaze, Neon Party, and Advantage Point round out the contenders with varying degrees of probability in this competitive Kentucky Oaks prep race.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded