Laurel Park news and notes: Feb. 26
The Biz- February 26, 2022
Jockey Jevian Toledo took the late double to cap off a three-win Saturday at Laurel Park. Toledo won aboard Gamestonks, trained by Brittany Russell, in the eighth, an allowance/optional claimer, and then on Charming Way in the ninth. Charming Way is trained by Madison Meyers; she also sent out the runner-up, Glowsity, who went off at 40-1.
With six wins this racing weekend, Toledo has surged into the lead of the jockey standings. Toledo has won 26 races at the meet, which continues through March 27. Victor Carrasco is second with 22 wins…
- Maryland Racing Commission OKs new TMJC as track operatorThe Maryland Racing Commission on Dec. 23 signed off on the new nonprofit Maryland Jockey Club to operate Laurel Park in the new year.
Trainer Mike Geralis sent out Mary Jane Chrome, with Toledo up, to win the second, a maiden claimer. It was the fourth consecutive Geralis starter to win. After starting the year 0-for-7, Geralis has now won with five of his last six runners…
Trainer Jerry Robb won the third race, a $5,000 claimer, with Little Bold Bandit. The win continued a remarkable hot streak for Robb: he’s leading all trainers at Laurel with 19 wins, and he’s done that with just 45 starters to date. That’s a 42% strike rate. His nearest pursuer is Jamie Ness, who’s won with 15 of 64 starts. Robb has done most of his damage with Xavier Perez in the irons; Perez has 17 wins at the meet…
Mohaafeth scored a 13-1 upset in the day’s co-feature, an allowance for older runners. Trained by former rider Elvis Trujillo, Mohaafeth rallied from mid-flight to prevail by three parts of a length over Gigging. Richard Monterrey rode the winner, a Tapit gelding who’s won twice in eight career starts…
In the dozen stakes contested so far this year, Victor Carrasco has won five. Two other riders — J. D. Acosta and Denis Araujo — have won two each. Among trainers, Ham Smith, Mike Trombetta, Rodney Jenkins, and John Salzman, Jr. have all won two stakes apiece…
Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis breezed an easy half-mile Saturday at Laurel Park ahead of a still-to-be-determined next start.
Wondrwherecraigis went four furlongs in 50 seconds over a fast main track, ranking 11th of 32 horses. It was the second work for the 5-year-old gelding since extending his win streak to two races with a 3 ¾-length triumph in the Jan. 29 Fire Plug at Laurel.
“He’s doing great. He’s awesome,” said trainer Brittany Russell. “He’s ready to do something.”
What that’ll be is the question: he’s nominated to both the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan March 26 and the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct March 5…
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