With the accent on Kentucky Derby preps, the first step on the Road to the Preakness, to be followed by the Tesio Stakes, is today’s running of the Private Terms at the MJC’s Laurel Park. And it’s a beauty.
It features the Champagne third and favorite Big City Bob (2-1), co-second choice Took Charge (5-2), with fast, building Thoro-Graph figures and a long pedigree for his first start around two turns and a price shot featured on today’s video, Amen Corner (20-1) one of three exiting the Miracle Wood.
As always, trips were instructive, ‘Bob’ was used near the pace in the Champagne and made a forward move wide on the turn, finishing gamely late behind protem Derby favorite Tiz The Law. It’s his season’s debut.
A rival with recency who will appreciate today’s 1-1/16 miles is Took Charge , a son of Take Charge Indy from an Indian Charlie Charlie mare. Chris Englehart is 25% efficient with shippers, the colt in from Aqueduct here.
The ‘trip horse’, Amen Corner, lagged early, made a 5-wide surge on the turn taking him 7-wide into stretch while getting bumped by an inside rival. Despite this, he continued forward beating half the field. Jeremiah O’Dwyer, who has two here, is profitable in non-graded stakes and 2nd-time going long.
Check the Laurel Park Live Video of the Miracle Wood, Laurel RACE 6 on FEB 16.
Price dependent, I could consider two win bets, ‘Bob’ and ‘Charge’ and completing an exacta box with ‘Big Bob’.
