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Tesio, Weber City Miss draw 58 noms

by | Apr 15, 2017 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Racing, Racing, Triple Crown Trail

Twisted Tom

Twisted Tom was up late to win the Private Terms Stakes in March at Laurel Park. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

A total of 58 horses were nominated to the $125,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds and the $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies, to be run Saturday April 22 at Laurel Park.

For the second straight year, the 1 1/8-mile Tesio will serve as a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for Triple Crown-nominated sophomores to the 142nd Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 and the Weber City Miss at about 1 1/16 miles will be a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the 93rd Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19, both at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The Tesio and Weber City Miss also saw their purses boosted $25,000 from 2016.

Cobra Farm, Inc.’s Twisted Tom tops 35 nominees to the Tesio, coming four weeks after his dramatic stretch rally to catch O Dionysus and spring a 4-1 upset of the Private Terms March 18 at Laurel. It was the second straight win for the Creative Cause gelding in his stakes debut.

Marathon Farms’ multiple stakes winner O Dionysus is also expected to return in the Tesio. The Bodemeister colt won the Miracle Wood Feb. 18 and the Christopher Elser Memorial last fall, and has also finished second in the Private Terms, Frank Whiteley Jr. and Marylander, the latter to recent Wood Memorial (G2) winner Irish War Cry, by less than a length combined.

Among other Tesio nominees are 2016 Nashua (G2) winner Hemsworth; Action Everyday, most recently fourth in the Gotham (G3); Blueridge Traveler, second in the Spiral (G3) March 25; Dharmaster, third by a half-length in the Private Terms; stakes winner Downhill Racer, unbeaten in two starts but unraced since Dec. 3; Hedge Fund, third in the Sunland Derby (G3); Two Charley’s, second to stablemate El Areeb in the James F. Lewis III last fall; Unbridled Holiday, exiting the April 1 Florida Derby (G1); and Carradine, Tiz He the One and Conquest Prankster – all coming off impressive wins for New York-based trainer Linda Rice, who is clicking in the money at more than 80 percent at Laurel’s winter-spring meet.

Undefeated Jenda’s Agenda, co-bred and owned by trainer Larry Jones, heads 23 fillies nominated to the Weber City Miss. The bay daughter of Proud Citizen ran her record to 3-0 with a front-running two-length victory in her stakes debut, the one-mile Caesar’s Wish March 18 at Laurel.

Also nominated are Forward Gal (G2) winner Tequilita, who captured the Smart Halo at Laurel in her 2-year-old finale; China Grove and Forever Liesl, 1-2 in the Wide Country Feb. 18 at Laurel; Star Super, winner of Laurel’s Marshua Jan. 21; stakes winners Babybluesdancing and Wilburnmoney; and stakes-placed Lucky in Malibu and Shes Tricky.

The most popular race was the $75,000 Primonetta for fillies and mares 3 and older at six furlongs on the main track, which attracted 46 nominations led by multiple stakes winners Moment of Delight and Sweet On Smokey and Conniver winner Next Best Thing.

Claimer-turned-millionaire Page McKenney is among 30 horses nominated to the $75,000 Henry S. Clark for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the turf. The 7-year-old gelding ended a nine-month layoff winning the Native Dancer Jan. 21 at Laurel and was second in the John B. Campbell Feb. 18 last time out. Fourteen of his 46 lifetime starts have come on turf but not since winning the Robellino Stakes in August 2015 at Penn National.

Also nominated to the Clark are defending champion Rose Brier, undefeated in four lifetime tries at Laurel, all in stakes, along with Rodney Jenkins-trained multiple stakes winner Phlash Phelps and Grade 2-placed stablemate Top of Mind; multiple stakes-winning millionaire Lubash; and two-time stakes winner Marengo Road, unraced since taking the James W. Murphy last May at Pimlico.

The $75,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares 3 and up at one mile on the turf drew 36 nominees including last year’s winner, Seeking Treasure; Cover Song and Danilovna, 1-2 separated by a nose in the 2016 Autumn Miss (G3) at Santa Anita; Grade 3 winners Flipcup, Mizz Money and Quidura.