Laurel to hold first 2017 baby race Saturday

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Laurel Park will kick off an 11-race program on Saturday with the first 2-year-old event of the year, a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight sprint on the main track for fillies.

A field of eight was entered for the $40,000 race, set to go to post at 1:10 p.m.

Jason McCutcheon-owned and trained Gaff filly Shape of You is the only filly in the group to have raced previously, finishing second by a half-length in a 4 ½-furlong event April 13 at Keeneland at odds of 49-1. She is the 7-5 program favorite with Xavier Perez in the irons from outside Post 8.

Trainer John Salzman Jr. entered a pair of horses in J Bird Mobberley’s Pauline’s Raven, a Dance With Ravens filly bred in Maryland by her late mother, Gretchen, and West Virginia-bred She Runs Hot, owned by the trainer and Fred Wasserloos. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado rides Pauline’s Raven, with Angel Serpa on She Runs Hot.

“I really liked [She Runs Hot] when I bought her. I didn’t think she’d quite be ready for the first one but she came around pretty quick. I look for some early speed from her; she’s built to be there early and hopefully she can hang on,” Salzman Jr. said. “[Pauline’s Raven] is a big, strapping filly. She’s not real quick away from the gate but I think Edgar will get her running. If anything comes from off the pace, I think she will.

“The biggest trick is getting them to leave the gate. If they get off good and they’ve got any speed at all they can get into the first turn, with a good post position usually they’ll get to the wire if they’ve got any ability at all,” he added. “It’s good to see the first race go here. Eight horses is a good start for our first 2-year-old race.”