FLORENCE, KY . . . December 11, 2008 . . . Extreme Supreme and Canela, respectively second and third in September’s Grade II Kentucky Cup Classic, return to Turfway Park this Saturday for the $50,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes. The two head a field of 10 for the 1 1/8 mile race.

Trained by John Ward Jr. for John Oxley, Extreme Supreme has not started since his runner-up finish in the Classic. He has performed well off similar or longer layoffs and in 15 career starts has finished out of the money only three times. Extreme Supreme has been training well over the Polytrack at Keeneland and should be ready to return to work in the Prairie Bayou. The mount goes to Otto Thorwarth, who finished second among riders in the fall meet after being edged out of the top spot on closing day.

Canela did not fare well in the Grade III River City Handicap on the turf at Churchill Downs last month, finishing 11th after racing in contention through most of that mile and an eighth. Two starts back he won by five lengths at the same distance in an optional allowance race, also on the turf at Churchill, and twice in the last six months he was graded-stakes placed, including his third-place finish in the Kentucky Cup Classic. Victor Lebron rides for trainer Mike Maker, who won the fall meet training title and is currently tied for the lead in the current meet.

Class may be an issue for Omaggio, but distance and surface should not. The Candy Stripes gelding has never been out of the money at the Prairie Bayou distance and is 3-2-3 in 10 starts on all-weather surfaces. He turns 8 years old in January but still gets the job done, with three wins, three seconds, and one third in eight starts this year. Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson joins him on the trip from Woodbine for trainer James Smith.

Also entered for the Prairie Bayou are Timeless Fashion (jockey Hector Rosario Jr.); Matty’s Trail (Richard Monterrey); Barastraight (GB) (Dana Whitney); Terrific Storm (Weldon Cloninger Jr.); For You Reppo (Orlando Mojica); Gin and Sin (John McKee); and Itsallboutthechase (Leandro Goncalves).

Post time Saturday is 1:10pm. The Prairie Bayou will run as the 11th of 12 races on the card.