Laurel Park Racing Notebook, Fall Meet Vol. 2

GQ’S HORSES TO WATCH

• Bioterp: An unlucky GQ LONGSHOT play when off at 12-1 in a 5 1/2 furlong turf event, stumbled leaving the gate but was quickly gathered by her jock, was in tight quarters at the three-eighths pole when having to steady, then clipped heels with a rival and nearly went down. The jock just let her run on her own into the stretch, gave her a little encouragement and she responded gamely to finish sixth, just four-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner.
• Broad Surprise: MD-bred two-year-old colt by Mineshaft out of an Include mare was steadied after the break in his debut, settled well off the pace, circled about five wide into the lane, finished with good energy and kept on nicely through the gallop out. Got a nice education and should be primed to earn his diploma in next outing.
• Canessar: French-bred Kendargent gelding was easily best in the 12-furlong Laurel Turf Cup in first North American try for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who said afterwards that, despite the horse’s solid record overseas, he’s one who needs the anti-bleeder medication Lasix. Graded rivals are up next for the four-year-old.
• Charm City: Runner-up in first start for trainer J. Ness after reclaiming this 7-year-old mare for $7,500 last month. Though just a half-length behind the 9-5 winner, she was bottled up behind a trio of early speed from the far turn to the eighth pole, was then angle out at first opportunity, finally being able to get into high gear and closed ground stoutly with a strong gallop out well beyond all of her rivals.
• Cordmaker: A $150k yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Timonium October ’16 sale won in his second career start going 6 furlongs after being rather “green” in his debut, finishing a fast closing third. “I just had to run him first time, he was going out of his skin. And, you can’t rush him. He’s got that stride from here to there and he has to get going,” said trainer Rodney Jenkins after the win. “I knew he’d run good. He’s nice. He can run, and the longer the better. I’m very excited about him.” The future is very bright for this gelded son of Curlin, whose half-brother Corvus won the 2015 MD Million Nursery in his racing debut.
• Crabcakes: This three-year-old daughter of Great Notion destroyed her elders in her first opportunity against them in a six-furlong second-level allowance/optional claimer to run her record to 9:5-3-0. Trainer Bernie Houghton afterwards admitted, “She likes to have a little time between her races. I was concerned that maybe I didn’t give her enough time (since her last race 27 days ago) but I wanted to run here so she could have plenty of time for her next race. That was good. I just wanted a prep. I didn’t really want to have to work her if I could help it, and the timing of this race just came up perfect for the Maryland Million (Distaff). That’s where we’re headed.”
• Stormy Mama: Made an incredible run to be fourth when 13-1 after rearing up at the break and spotting her rivals about a dozen lengths in a $5,000 beaten claimer contest going 6 furlongs. Her lifetime record at Laurel now stands at 32:1-4-9.
• Wise Gal: Dove Houghton trainee made short work of Selima rivals for her second straight turf sprint victory. The two-year-old Einstein filly has the look of one who’ll stretch out.

JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS

The chart at right is the top 10 jockeys in the Laurel Park colony by return on wagering investment among all jockeys with at least 10 starts at the current meeting.

It was a wide-open weekend among Laurel Park jockeys. Five of them — Forest Boyce, Daniel Centeno, Alex Cintron, Sheldon Russell, and Jomar Torres — won three times each, with Centeno scoring with three of just nine starters.

Four other jocks — Arnaldo Bocachica, Kevin Gomez, Edwin Gonzalez, and Steve Hamilton — won twice each. Bocachica’s two wins were from just five starters on the weekend. Oddly enough, the jockey with the highest purse earnings during the weekend won only once. Horacio Karamanos’ lone win from 18 starters came aboard Chublicious in the Grade 3 De Francis Dash, but that one score helped power him to weekend earnings of $217,666.

Overall, Alex Cintron leads the colony with nine winners, followed by Steve Hamilton (six), and then Katie Davis and Kevin Gomez (four each). In terms of ROI, Edwin Gonzalez is the only jock with at least 10 starts to date to have returned bettors more than they cost, checking in with a $2 ROI of $2.44. Alex Cintron is next, at $1.92.