Laurel Park Racing Notebook, Fall Meet Vol. 5
Special Intention (inside) held off Junonia to break his maiden today at Laurel Park. Photo by The Racing Biz.
by Doug McCoy
Our new Laurel Park racing notebook gives you the scoop on the weekend’s racing, even if you couldn’t make it out. Horses to watch, headlines from the weekend, leading jocks and trainers — it’s all here.
Check it out below.
HORSES TO WATCH
- BALHARBOUR MISS – This one was boxed in until late in her most recent and with clear sailing, should be tough next time out.
- LOVE’S LEGEND – Rider let a number of horses pass him after being in perfect stalking position into turn of last on the turf. A more aggressive approach next could produce a winner here.
- TALE OF MIST – Was closing well from between rivals late in last and looks like he’s starting to put it all together. Watch for this one next out.
WORKOUT WATCH
- LIMITED VIEW – Winner of the Maryland Million Lassie turned in a solid six furlong maintenance work of 1:14 2/5 and looks to be holding her good form.
- LINE OF BEST FIT – This one who finished fourth in a stake at Charles Town last time out posted a quick 46 3/5 drill and looks to be coming up to next in sharp form.
- TALK SHOW MAN – Ham Smith runner who was third as the favorite of the Maryland Million Turf drilled a solid five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 preparing for his next out.
- STONEY BENNETT – Ollie Figgins’ New York-bred who was fourth as the choice of the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont most recently posted a solid five furlong move of 1:00 3/5 on November 19.
JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS
Feargal Lynch led the Laurel Park riding colony during last week’s action, with four other riders nipping at his heels.
Lynch, who has been doing some travelling this fall, riding at Keeneland and other tracks for high-profile trainers like Graham Motion and Arnaud Delacour, won with four of the 17 mounts he rode to lead all riders.
But four others won three times. Those included Sheldon Russell, whose 30 wins at the meet place him second overall, and Edgar Prado who’s now 10th with 18 wins.
Two other riders won three times in limited duty. Daniel Centeno won with three of eight starts and is eighth overall with 19 wins to date. And Xavier Perez showed signs of snapping a lengthy slump, winning three times from nine starts. He now has six wins at the meet.
From a betting perspective, the top wagering investment was Jenn Miller. Though she won only once over the weekend (from eight starters), that lone winner, Sippin’onbubbles, paid $106.40 to win, giving her an ROI of $13.30 for each $2 wager.
Five trainers won two races last week.
Dorothy Worton won with two of her six starters on the week, generating a return on betting investment of 183 percent; that ROI was tops among trainers with more than one win for the week.
Michele Nevin and Jerry Robb each had perfect records, winning with both horses they saddled last weekend. Also winning twice were Tim Keefe (in five starts) and Mike Trombetta (13 starts).
Trombetta and Dale Capuano have won 16 times each at the current meeting. They are tied for second by wins, though five wins behind Claudio Gonzalez. Capuano and Jose Corrales (7-for-25 at the meet) have the highest ROI thus far; Capuano is returning $3.68 for each two-buck wager, and Corrales is bringing bettors $4.16. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Hugh McMahon, who has 10 wins, good for seventh on the list, but returns to bettors just 86 cents per two-dollar wager.
TRACK BIAS REPORT
- 11/17 – With recent rains in the area coupled with cloudy skies a good bit of moisture remained in the Laurel main strip making the track tighter and more speed-conducive. Stalkers and late runners had more difficulty closing ground down the stretch than has been the case the past few weeks.
- 11/18 – The speed bias continued as front runners and horses close to the pace seem to be the most successful on the Saturday card.
- 11/19 – Speed runners continued to enjoy the most success on a day when strong winds also made it tough for riders to keep their balance and control their mounts.
- 11/20 – Track played to speed early but late runners and stalkers fared better for the later races on the dirt as it looked like Sunday’s howling winds may have started to dry out the strip and turn the surface a bit dull.
