Spun to Run and more: The week in social media

by Chelsea Lowman | Sep 6, 2019 | Breaking, Business, Regionwide, Top Stories

Spun to Run held off Gray Magician to win the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx. Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-Photo.

West Virginia Racing added three additional days of live racing at Charles Town, local hero Spun to Run stole the show at Parx over the holiday weekend, and Laurel Park’s fall meet is ready to begin.

Here is the 411 on what racing fans in the Mid-Atlantic region have been talking about this week:

Spun to Run takes the Smarty Jones

Robert P. Donaldson’s Spun to Run prevailed narrowly in Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing, defeating Gray Magician by the flare of a nostril at the finish.

With jockey Paco Lopez in the irons, the bay son of Hard Spun completed the 1 1/16-mile challenge in a final time of 1:44 and earned himself a place in the starting gate for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on September 21.

Conditioned by Parx-based trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, Spun to Run has a current record of three wins from eight starts, and earnings of $360,520. Previously third in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park, the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) marks the first graded stakes victory for Spun to Run.

Spun to Run wins the $300K Smarty Jones Stakes @letsgoracingpa!! #PennHorseRacing #WhatARide ??? pic.twitter.com/AICLitzsiG
— PennHorseRacing (@PennHorseRacing) September 2, 2019

More days at Charles Town

The West Virginia Racing Commission granted approval for three additional days of live Thoroughbred horse racing to take place at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for 2019.

Each of the new cards days will be run on a Wednesday, beginning on November 6, and continuing through November 13 and November 20. Post time for the first race for each of the three additional days of racing will begin at 7 p.m. EST.

Fall season kicks off at Laurel

Opening day for the fall meet at Laurel Park begins this Friday, September 6, with a nine-race program beginning at 1:10 p.m. est.

The meet will see 61 days of live Thoroughbred horse racing, with 40 stakes races worth $4.27 million scheduled to take place. The 34th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day is also slated to commence during the fall meet at Laurel Park and will take place on Saturday, October 19.

The 2019 fall meet for Laurel Park ends December 29.

Laurel Park’s annual Crackin’ Crab Feast will help kick off the fall meet this Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. The crab feast will take place at the apron tent by the rail of the main track, offering all-you-can-eat crabs and side dishes for participants. Tickets cost $60 for adults, $35 for kids age 4-12, and are free for kids under 4.