Thursday, September 25 2008

CHANGES AFOOT IN THE LAUREL PARK JOCKEY COLONY

LAUREL, MD. 09-24-08---The Laurel Park jocks room welcomed back a familiar face this afternoon but another well-known personality will be taking a hiatus for the balance of the year.

Erick Rodriguez, who missed four months after breaking two ribs and puncturing a lung in a spill at Pimlico, returned today with a pair of fifth place finishes (Rocco-third) and (June Tune-seventh).

“I feel really good and am ready to go,” said Rodriguez, who has been a top ten rider in Maryland since 2003. “My agent (Paul Plymire) and I are working hard in the morning going barn to barn and everybody seems happy to see me. Hopefully business will pick up quickly.”

Saturday, September 20 2008

WONDER MON WONDERFUL IN DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 09-20-08---ZWP Stable’s Wonder Mon was a distant seventh racing down the backstretch but came flying down the lane to easily capture today’s feature at Laurel Park, the $50,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes for 3-year-old Maryland-breds.

Trained by Gary Capuano and ridden by Travis Dunkelberger, Wonder Mon did not pass a single horse until he was a quarter of a mile from home, but in a flash he was by all of them and he drew off to win by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:37.32 for the one mile distance on the fast main track. Casanova Jack finished second and Malibu Kid was third.

“He just galloped by them,” Dunkelberger said. “He went about his business just like we hoped. We thought a lot of this horse last year and he’s come back and is doing really good.”

Friday, September 19 2008

JIM MCKAY’s MARYLAND MILLION DAY

TIMONIUM, MD – September 19, 2008---Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (D) District 41, is planning to propose to the Maryland Legislature that, with a joint resolution, Jim McKay’s legendary sports name is to be officially adopted by Maryland Million Ltd.’s Board of Directors for the annual racing program for Maryland-sired horses. The announcement was made this morning at a news conference at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Jim McKay, who was the founder and primary standard bearer for the event, was chairman up until the time of his death in June of this year. “He was a great ambassador for the state of Maryland and his contributions to the horse breeding and racing community are celebrated annually on Maryland Million Day,” said Delegate Rosenberg. “I believe that adding his name to the event is a fitting honor.”

Thursday, September 18 2008

SEVEN TO START IN DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 09-18-08---Trainer Gary Capuano has entered both Wonder Mon and Legendary Lover in the $50,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park Saturday afternoon. The test for three-year-old Maryland-breds also attracted five others who will race a one mile on the main track.

Wonder Mon is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Away from action since last May, the Maria’s Mon colt won his first two starts in Maryland, raced in Florida during the winter and came back to run in Maryland in the spring.

Capuano’s other runner is Legendary Lover (4-1), who is not coupled with Wonder Mon in the betting. The son of Not For Love is two for five lifetime, with a maiden claiming win and an allowance score at Laurel Park. Travis Dunkelberger has the mount.

Sunday, September 14 2008

MR. KEEPER PREPS FOR MARYLAND MILLION WITH OLIVER’S TWIST STAKES VICTORY

William Backer’s Mr. Keeper let the others do their thing before he split horses and drew off to a convincing victory in the $50,000 Oliver’s Twist Stakes for 2-year-old Maryland-breds at Laurel Park. The son of Lion Hearted will be pointed to the $150,000 Maryland Million Nursery at Laurel on October 4.

Pilanesberg shot to the lead in the 5-1/2 furlong test on the yielding turf but bolted entering the turn, carrying Helookslikearnold to the outer rail. That left four runners with a fighting chance, but Mr. Keeper had their measure and won off by three lengths in 1:03.56. Morning line favorite Peace Town, promising Ready to Cruise and Count on Lou scratched.

Thursday, September 11 2008

TWO-YEAR-OLDS TO TEST LAUREL PARK TURF IN OLIVER’S TWIST STAKES

Put up $50,000, scramble in some precocious 2-year-olds, set the distance at 5-1/2 furlongs and the result is Saturday’s feature offering at Laurel Park, the grassy Oliver’s Twist Stakes.

Mike Trombetta trains undefeated Peace Town, the 9-5 morning line favorite. Peace Town won his debut race by eight lengths at Delaware Park in mid-June, and then on August 14 at Laurel stumbled from the gate in his second career start only to rally to win by three-parts of a length. Julian Pimentel is named to ride.

Sunday, September 07 2008

MISS CHARM CITY CHARGES TO VICTORY IN GIN TALKING STAKES

Miss Charm City seized the lead from Graceful Ginger as the pair raced into the turn and sped away to victory in the $50,000 Gin Talking Stakes for Maryland-bred 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

Miss Charm City, a chestnut daughter of Bowman’s Band who is owned by the Estate of James Glenn, upped her record to two wins in two starts for trainer Carlos Garcia and jockey Horacio Karamanos. She completed the 5-1/2 furlong distance over a sloppy track in 1:06.87, 6-3/4 lengths ahead of Lemeaskuaquestion, who edged Graceful Ginger for the place. Miss Charm City paid $7.60.

Saturday, September 06 2008

KENDRICK CARMOUCHE A PERFECT THREE-FOR-THREE ON FRIDAY

ockey Kendrick Carmouche had a flawless afternoon at Laurel Park today when he guided home three winners from as many mounts. After two days of the fall meeting, the 24-year-old leads the rider standings with five victories from seven mounts.

Major Marvel ($12.40-third) and Blind Date ($13.40) won first time out for top trainers Dale Capuano and Hamilton Smith. In the eighth race, the Louisiana native guided Lil’s Lassie ($6) to an impressive score in a $40,000 allowance test beating stakes veterans Exchanging Fire, Take a Check, For Kisses and All Smiles to the wire.

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.

Thursday, September 04 2008

LIVE RACING RETURNS TO LAUREL PARK ON SEPTEMBER 4

Live racing returns to Laurel Park tomorrow afternoon for the fall meeting. First post is 1:10 p.m. Opening day features free admission. Other September promotions include Back to Racing Barbeque (September 6); College Pride Day (September 13); Track Diva Day and Crab Feast (both September 20) and Vegas or Bust (September 27).

The first three days of the meet will include 10 races on the turf course, including the $50,000 Gin Talking Stakes for two-year-old fillies on Saturday.

Friday, August 22 2008

PIMENTEL CAPTURES LAUREL PARK SUMMER RIDING TITLE

LAUREL, MD. 08-21-08---The 10-day Laurel Park summer meeting ended this evening with Julian Pimentel, Gary Capuano and Sondra Bender capturing individual titles. Live racing shifts to Timonium tomorrow for the seven-day state fair meet.

Pimentel won his first career title in Maryland in consistent fashion winning eight races, one more than Eric Camacho. After five years as one of the top riders on the New Jersey circuit, the now 27-year-old moved his tack to Maryland during the summer of 2006.

Wednesday, August 20 2008

LAUREL PARK FALL RACING DATES, STAKES SCHEDULE APPROVED

LAUREL, MD. 08-19-08---The Laurel Park fall stakes schedule was approved this afternoon at the monthly Maryland Racing Commission meeting. Earlier in the month, the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) agreed to eliminate all the open stakes races for the fall meeting, including the Grade I Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, as the industry faces a shortfall in the purse account.

Because of the reductions the 2008 fall stakes program only includes 11 $50,000 state-bred stakes races and the 12 races on Maryland Million Day, a day of races restricted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions only. The 23 stakes races will total $2.23 million.