Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, January 29, 2020

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

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.

LATEST RACING NEWS