Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, January 29, 2020

by John Piassek | Jan 29, 2020 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide, Top Stories

Victor Carrasco won the 1,000th race of his career Jan. 26 aboard Justin Front. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s your five-minute read to get caught up on all of it:

LAUREL PARK

Three Hawk had to work for it, but she won Friday’s featured n/w1x allowance as the 6/5 betting choice. She stalked the pace four-wide, then moved on the turn and drew alongside leader Break Curfew. Break Curfew fought on in the stretch, but Three Hawk got by her in the last sixteenth of a mile for the win. Alex Cintron rode for owner Five Hellions Farm and trainer Lacey Gaudet.
Lawn Boy pulled off the upset in Saturday’s feature, taking a n/w1x allowance at 6 ½ furlongs by a neck at 11/1. Avery Whisman put him on a clear early lead, leading by three lengths as they turned for home. Major Flirt, who rated in second off the runaway leader, closed sharply in the stretch, but couldn’t finish the job. Lawn Boy won his second consecutive race, after winning a bottom-level maiden claiming affair back on December 21. He’s owned by Michael Schefferes and trained by Carlos Mancilla.
Carol Cedeno turned a natural hat trick on the final three races on Sunday. She took down the 6th race with 6/1 On Duty, race 7 with Dancie at 5/1, then the 8th race aboard 9/5 Higher Purpose. The all-Cedeno pick 3 paid $78.40 for 50 cents.
Cedeno’s big day put her in second place in the jockey standings, with 10 wins. However, she’s still well behind Trevor McCarthy, who rode two winners on the week to extend his total to 14. Sheldon Russell is third, and Victor Carrasco, who earned his 1,000th career win on Sunday, is in a four-way tie for fourth, with seven winners.
The top four trainers in the standings are all hitting at more than 25%: Claudio Gonzalez (15-for-53), Jamie Ness (9-for-33), Kieron Magee (8-for-27), and Jerry Robb (6-for-20).

CHARLES TOWN RACES

Riding a two-race winning streak into Wednesday’s feature, the stakes-placed filly Amelia Bedelia was 1-2 to begin her 2020 on a winning note. However, she could no better than third. Ava O, coming off a fifth-place finish twelve days ago, took the early lead, and held on by a neck. The winner paid $22.40 for owner New Hope Farm, trainer Neil Morris, and jockey J.D. Acosta.
Jersey-bred veteran Phonemyposseagain won his eighth race in a row on Friday night. Sent off at 1-9, with more than $200,000 in bridge-jumper bets on his back, he established a clear early lead in a starter/optional claiming contest and did not look back, winning by 2 ¼ lengths. He went the 4 ½ furlongs in a sharp 52.29 seconds. During his streak, he’s won four times at Charles Town, three times at Mountaineer Park, and once at Timonium. Arnaldo Bocachica was in the saddle for owner Robert Cole and trainer Kevin Patterson.
Arnaldo Bocachica, unsurprisingly, leads the jockey standings, with 13 wins. However, Denis Arujo has been giving a good account of himself, sitting in second with 10 victories.
Jeff Runco is in a similar spot in the training race. He has eight wins to pace the group, but Ronney Brown, with six victories, is in close pursuit.

PARX RACING

Red Razzo proved the best in Monday’s Parx feature, taking down a Pennsylvania-bred allowance field by 1 ¾ lengths. He stalked the pace on the outside in the early stages of the 1 mile and 70 yard contest, then made a three-wide move on the final turn. He drew off from there, covering the distance in 1:44.06. He’s owned by Top Notch Racing, trained by leading trainer Joseph Taylor, and was ridden by Angel Rodriguez.
Despite not riding this week, Mychel Sanchez still leads the jockey race, with 10 wins, while Taylor paces the trainer ranks with seven.