Manchurian High won last year’s Laurel Turf Cup. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Graded stakes winners Divine Oath, Holiday Star, and Messi are among the 19 horses nominated for Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles.
Divine Oath, a 4-year-old son of Broken Vow, was a winner last time out of the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland while Holiday Star, a 5-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday who won the McKnight (G3) last winter, was fifth.
Messi, a German-bred, took the Grade 3 Knickerbocker last out at Belmont Park, defeating a field that included recent Grade 2 Commonwealth Cup winner Mr. Speaker.
All three runners come from the powerful barn of Graham Motion.
Other notables include the third- and fourth-place finishers from last year’s Laurel Turf Cup, St. Albans Boy, trained by Kelly Rubley, and Shug McGaughey’s Reflecting.
Locally-based runners Sarbanes, trained by Robin Graham, and Ann Merryman’s Svindahl are also nominated to the event.
Manchurian High, the 2014 winner, is not among the nominations.
