Friday, September 05, 2008

SIX FILLIES SET TO GO IN GIN TALKING STAKES

A promising band of two-year-old fillies will try the turf in the $50,000 Gin Talking Stakes, the feature offering on Saturday at Laurel Park. A “Back to Racing Barbeque” is the on-track promotion for the first weekend of the 17-week fall meeting at the central Maryland track.

The Gin Talking is set for 5-1/2 furlongs and restricted to registered Maryland-breds. Six fillies are entered, topped by Graceful Ginger, the 8-5 morning line favorite.


Graceful Ginger has started twice this summer at Delaware Park, a disappointing fourth as favorite after a slow start and a more encouraging victory her next time out. Enrique Jurado was aboard for the win and retains the mount for owner-trainer John Alecci.

“I had her mother (Tappin’ Ginger),” said Alecci. “She could run on both grass and dirt. She finished second in the Hilltop Stakes on the grass and second in the Black-Eyed Susan on the dirt. This filly is doing super. She had a nice work on the grass at Laurel (August 27) and now we’ll just have to see if the race goes on the grass or over the mud on Saturday.”

Miss Charm City (7-2) won her first start by four lengths at Laurel on August 13 and followed the victory with a workout over the turf at Laurel the same morning Graceful Ginger sampled the turf for the first time. Her work was the second fastest on the tab behind the favorite. Horacio Karamanos, her partner in her debut, will get a leg up from trainer Carlos Garcia.

Nancy G. (4-1) finished a wide and rallying second in her debut on the turf, but she passes up a chance to try maidens again to go in this spot. The Richard Small trained runner, out of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, will carry Josue Arce.

Charles Town-based runner Letmeaskuaquestion (4-1) has a pair of wire-to-wire scores at her home stomping grounds, including the Rachel’s Turn Stakes on August 23. J.D. Acosta, hot off winning the riding title at the Timonium State Fair meeting, has been her regular rider.

Bigdaddysgirl (8-1) beat $16,000 claiming maidens in her debut at Laurel during the recently completed mini-meet. Eric Camacho rides the daughter of Preakness winner Louis Quatorze for trainer Jerry Robb.

Queen of Song (8-1) makes her first career start on Saturday. The Mark Shuman trainee is by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled Song and has posted two bullet workouts at the Fair Hill Training Center.


ALLARD, HAMPSHIRE TEAM UP FOR TWO ON OPENING DAY

Philadelphia Park-based Ned Allard and Joe Hampshire teamed up to win a pair of races on the opening day of the fall meeting at Laurel Park. Allard saddled Undignified ($11-fourth) and Shananies Song ($3.60-sixth) to driving scores with Hampshire, who won his 3,000th career race at Laurel in January 2004, aboard.

Shananies Song was the only favorite to win on the eight race card, with the average win price exceeding $12.

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