Graded winners among 132 noms to Laurel year-end stakes
El Areeb won the James F. Lewis, III Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
A total of 132 horses were nominated to five stakes worth $475,000 in purses that help comprise the New Year’s Eve program that wraps up the 52-day fall meet at Laurel Park on Saturday, Dec. 31.
Libby’s Tail, second by a head in the Frizette (G1) Oct. 8 at Belmont Park, is among 30 nominees for the $100,000 Gin Talking for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. She is joined by stakes winners Clairvoyant Lady and Yorkiepoo Princess; Star Super, Candycoated Dame and Squan’s Kingdom, 2-3-4, respectively, in the Smart Halo Nov. 16; stakes-placed Fear No Evil, Lucky in Malibu; New York-based maiden winners Bride Street and Come Dancing; and Liz’s Cable Girl, who broke her maiden by 10 ¾ lengths Nov. 28 at Parx.
The $100,000 Marylander for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs attracted 26 nominations, led by impressive James Lewis III Stakes winner El Areeb; Greatbullsoffire, whose multiple stakes wins include the Maryland Juvenile Futurity Dec. 10; O Dionysus, who upset Greatbullsoffire in the Christopher Elser Memorial Nov. 12 at Parx; Swyford Stakes winner Undulated; Two Charley’s and High Roller, 2-3, respectively, in the James Lewis; stakes-placed Bonus Points, Boys from Boston, Heat Dome, The Walk; Laurel maiden winners Bellows, Blackjack Buster and Irish War Cry; and Alan’s Legacy, who broke his maiden by 22 ½ lengths in his fourth career start Nov. 26 at Parx.
Stallwalkin’ Dude, whose 48-race career includes multiple stakes wins topped by the Bold Ruler (G3) Oct. 29 and nearly $1.2 million in purse earnings, is among 27 3-year-olds and up nominated to the $100,000 Dave’s Friend at six furlongs. Also nominated are Fall Highweight (G3) winner Heaven’s Runway; Just Jack, upset winner of the Howard Bender Memorial Dec. 10 at Laurel; multiple stakes winners Abiding Star, Bodhisattva, Chublicious, Never Gone South, Sonny Inspired; Maryland Million Sprint winner Nicaradalic Rocks; De Francis Dash (G3) runner-up Rockinn On Bye; All Star Red, third in the Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) May 21; Grade 2-placed Chief Lion; multiple Grade 3-placed colt Classy Class; and stakes-placed Big Guy Ian, Drama King, Final Prospect, Measured, Sir Rockport and Voluntario.
The $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go for females 3 and up at one mile attracted 27 nominations including defending champion Athena; By the Moon, whose multiple graded stakes wins include the 2014 Frizette (G1); Go for Wand (G3) winner Highway Star and runner-up High Ridge Road; Grade 3 winner Hot City Girl, most recently third off a four-month layoff in the Willa On the Move Dec. 10 at Laurel; stakes winners Flatterywillgetyou, Jules N Rome, Mecke’s Madalyn, She’s Hot Wired and Southern Girl; stakes-placed Burn Control, Cayman Croc, La Inesperada, Little Cyclone, and Love Came to Town; abd Etiquette, a 10-length maiden winner Sept. 17 at Laurel for trainer Graham Motion.
Rounding out the stakes action is the $75,000 Jennings for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up. Among the 22 nominees for the one-mile stakes are two-time defending Maryland Million Classic winner Admirals War Chest, second in last year’s Jennings; multiple stakes winner John Jones, whose four-race win streak was snapped when third in the Claiming Crown Jewel Dec. 3; 2015 Maryland Juvenile Futurity winner Ravenheart; and Who Stole My Sock, who upset the Maryland Million Starter Handicap at odds of 40-1 Oct. 22.
After being closed Christmas Day, Sunday Dec. 25, Laurel will host a special program on Monday, Dec. 26 and conclude the fall meet on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 30 and 31. The winter-spring meet kicks off Sunday, Jan. 1.
