Laurel: Mavilus will make season bow on Friday
Press Release- February 9, 2023
Michael Scheffres’ Mavilus, popular winner of the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap last fall, is entered to make her 5-year-old debut Friday against six rivals as live racing returns to Laurel Park.
Trained by Carlos Mancilla, Mavilus takes a two-race win streak into Friday’s eighth, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up sprinting seven furlongs. She has been third or better in 23 of 35 starts with eight wins, four since being claimed for $5,000 last January.
The narrow 3-1 program favorite is Brereton Jones’ Skipper Sue, an 11-length debut winner over elders in an off-the-turf maiden special weight sprint last October. The 4-year-old Cairo Prince filly was second going seven furlongs and third sprinting 5 ½ furlongs in a back-to-back allowances, the latter Jan. 1, both by less than two lengths.
Nine races are also on tap Saturday, highlighted by back-to-back optional claiming allowances sprinting six furlongs in Races 7-8. Among the seven entered in Race 7, for 4-year-olds and up, are multiple stakes-placed Al Loves Josie and 9-year-old Union Rags gelding Sevier, a winner of 26 of 64 lifetime starts including two straight, both at Laurel, Jan. 14 and Dec. 17.
Race 8 also drew seven horses including Tappin Josie, racing first off the claim for trainer Horacio DePaz after winning a 5 ½-furlong sprint Jan. 20 at Laurel; fellow 124-pound topweight Stryda, exiting a 7 ½-length maiden special weight win over fellow West Virginia-breds Jan. 6 at Charles Town; and Happy Clouds, riding a two-race win streak.
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