Thursday, December 08 2011

Call of a Lion remains perfect in ‘11/ Delgado Wins 3, including 69-1 Shot

LAUREL, MD. 12-08-11---Call Of A Lion won for the seventh time in as many starts this year with a driving score in Thursday’s 7th race, a $17,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares. Three starts ago she was victorious in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap at Laurel Park.

The daughter of Lion Hearted was winning for the sixth time since re-entering the barn of Charles “Snake” Frock, who had claimed the 5-year-old mare for $5,000 on January 17. After raising Call of a Lion, Frock had lost her via the claim for $32,000 to owner Robert Cole and trainer Scott Lake in August 2010 at Monmouth Park.

RAPID REDUX COULD REACH ANOTHER RACING MILESTONE TUESDAY AT LAUREL PARK

LAUREL, MD. 12-08-11---Racing history could be made at Laurel Park as Rapid Redux, who broke the record for consecutive wins last month at Mountaineer Park with his 20th straight score, looks to tie the all-time North American record for victories in a calendar year, when he starts in Tuesday afternoon’s 6th race, a $17,000 starter allowance.

Citation currently holds the single-season record with 19 wins in 20 starts in 1948, the year he captured the Triple Crown. Rapid Redux is a perfect 18-of-18 in 2011.

Sunday, December 04 2011

Eighttofasttocatch Wires The Field In The Jennings Handicap

LAUREL, MD. 12-3-11---Sylvia Heft’s Eighttofasttocatch was just too fast to catch, leading from start to finish in the $75,000 Jennings Handicap, the feature offering on this sunny autumn afternoon at Laurel Park.

First away from the gate under Sheldon Russell, the 5-year old son of Not For Love opened up on his five rivals through the turn, where Russell gave him a breather until the pack began to close in. Then, with just a little urging, Eighttofasttocatch spurted away to a 4-1/4 length victory in 1:35.76 for the one mile distance. Indian Dance finished second and Concealed Identity took third.

Eighttofasttocatch Wires The Field In The Jennings Handicap

LAUREL, MD. 12-3-11---Sylvia Heft’s Eighttofasttocatch was just too fast to catch, leading from start to finish in the $75,000 Jennings Handicap, the feature offering on this sunny autumn afternoon at Laurel Park.

First away from the gate under Sheldon Russell, the 5-year old son of Not For Love opened up on his five rivals through the turn, where Russell gave him a breather until the pack began to close in. Then, with just a little urging, Eighttofasttocatch spurted away to a 4-1/4 length victory in 1:35.76 for the one mile distance. Indian Dance finished second and Concealed Identity took third.

Saturday, December 03 2011

X-MAN EQUALS LONGSHOT WINNERS

LAUREL, MD. 12-02-11---Xavier Perez joined the Maryland jockey colony this fall after beginning his career at Charles Town and he has made a favorable impression with 26 winners, ranking fifth in the rider standings. The “X-Man” has victories for 15 different trainers during the stand with an average win mutuel of $16.

“There’s no telling how good this kid can be because he rides them all hard, whether they are 2-1 or 25-1,” said J.D. Brown, Perez’s agent. “I told him that once people started to see him win, they would come. And that has happened. We are starting to ride for some better outfits.”

Thursday, December 01 2011

MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC WINNERS MEET IN JENNINGS HANDICAP

LAUREL, MD. 12-01-11---Eighttofasttocatch and Regal Solo, the last two Maryland Million Classic winners, headline a group of six runners in Saturday’s $75,000 Jennings Handicap at Laurel Park. The 70th running of the one-mile test has been won by millionaire Little Bold John and Grade 1 winners Taking Risks and Include.

Eighttofasttocatch (7-5) has three stakes victories at Laurel this year for trainer Tim Keefe during his 5-year-old season. The son of Not For Love also took the Harrison Johnson Memorial Stakes (March 26) and Japan Racing Association Stakes (September 10). In his last start he was a solid fourth in the G2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland on October 29. Sheldon Russell has the mount.

Wednesday, November 30 2011

TURF RACING WRAPS UP FOR THE YEAR, NEARLY TWENTY-FIVE NEW TRAINERS ON-SITE TO HELP FILL RACES

LAUREL. MD. 11-29-11---Laurel Park officials decided today not to use the turf course for the remainder of the year. Heavy rains in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. region forced races off the grass four times last week. One turf race had been scheduled for Wednesday’s card.

One hundred seventeen turf races were conducted at Laurel this fall with an average win payout of nearly $14.40. Only thirty-two betting favorites won races. The average field size was 9.8 runners per race.

Saturday, November 26 2011

Deliburnsky Speeds To Victory In Dave’s Friend Stakes

LAUREL, MD. 11-26-11---Happy Tenth Stable’s Deliburnsky stumbled at the break but quickly righted himself, hustled to the lead and continued on to win the $75,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes, the feature offering this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Pedro Cotto, Jr. rode the son of Flatter for trainer Tony Wilson. The 2-year-old was winning for the third time in five starts and the second time against stakes company. Deliburnsky came into the Dave’s Friend off a romping score in the Jersey Juvenile at Monmouth.

Thursday, November 24 2011

GLIB AND KOBISKIE ENTRY HEADLINE DAVE’S FRIEND STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 11-24-11---After a visually impressive performance in the Maryland Million Nursery two starts back, Glib makes his second appearance at Laurel Park in the $75,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes on Saturday. The six-furlong test drew seven 2-year-olds.

Glib, the 8-5 morning line favorite, was a 4-1/2 length winner of the Nursery for trainer Jerry Robb at odds of 5-1 off a maiden score at Charles Town in his debut. Earlier this month at Aqueduct, the son of Great Notion was bumped leaving the starting gate and was a well-beaten third as the betting choice in the Lord Henry Stakes.

Wednesday, November 23 2011

KOBISKIE SADDLES THREE WINNERS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

LAUREL, MD. 11-23-11---Trainer Dane Kobiskie saddled three winners Wednesday afternoon at Laurel Park, including the last two races on the nine-race card.

The 32-year-old scored with Live the Dash ($3.40-fifth), Manito ($3.40-eighth) and One to a Royal ($9.80-ninth). The former rider has a career-best 98 victories this year, including 52 at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.

Cole Has Another Goal For Rapid Redux: Most Wins In One Year

LAUREL, MD. 11-23-11---Less than 40 hours after Rapid Redux passed Zenyatta and Peppers Pride to set the North American record for most consecutive wins, at 20 with his victory at Mountaineer Park Monday night, owner Robert Cole has set his sights on another mark for his 5-year-old. Eighteen of the 20 scores during the streak have occurred in 2011. Citation currently holds the single-season record with 19 wins in 20 starts in 1948, the year he captured the Triple Crown.

“I am just happy to be part of racing history, which goes back to George Washington. To be mentioned with some of the greatest horses of all-time like Zenyatta and Citation is something I can take to my grave,” Cole said before the first race at Laurel Park Wednesday afternoon. “The race came up a little soft, especially with all the scratches so it was kind of a breather for him. It didn’t really seem that he ran that hard.”

Tuesday, November 22 2011

HOLIDAY WEEK INCLUDES THANKSGIVING DAY CARD, GUYS’ WEEKEND

LAUREL, MD. 11-22-11---Thanksgiving traditions: turkey dinner, NFL games and thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park. The central Maryland track offers a special 11:05 a.m. post time Thursday with a nine-race card. Headlining the day will be the 24th annual pie giveaway (pumpkin or apple) after the fifth race at both Laurel and its sister track, Pimlico Race Course. Free donuts with coffee or cider will also be available from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Laurel’s terrace dining room will feature a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving buffet for $23.

The holiday week continues Friday and Saturday afternoons with “Guys’ Weekend”.