Trainer John J. Robb was disappointed Saturday, he said, when he sent out Pure Majestic, a two-year-old Tapit filly he trains for his and his wife Gina’s No Guts No Glory Farm, to a fourth-place finish in the first baby race of 2024 in Maryland.

“She stayed in the one-hole and got all the mud and got buried,” Robb said. “I thought she was good enough to win that.”

It didn’t take Robb long to get a two-year-old to the winner’s circle, however. In Sunday’s lid-lifter at Laurel Park, a $47,000 maiden special weight for two-year-olds, he sent out Mens Grille Racing’s Studlydoright to a 1 ½-length victory in 53.32 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs over a sloppy, sealed main track.

“Yeah [we liked Studlydoright from the beginning]. I mean, we were always worried about the short distance because he wants to go longer,” Robb said. “But it worked out.”

Under jockey Xavier Perez, Studlydoright was a bit outfooted early and found himself in fifth, eight lengths behind leader Ace It, after the opening quarter-mile had gone in 23.48 seconds. Ace It, the only runner with a prior start, began to tire rounding the turn, and Sir Mick, the 4-5 post time favorite, was able to slip through inside to take the lead entering the stretch.

But Sir Mick, too, left an inviting hole on the rail. Perez shot his mount through it, and the duo went on to the win. Sir Mick finished second, and he was 4 ½ lengths ahead of Ace It, who finished third. 

Studlydoright paid $11.00 to win and topped an exacta that, with the favorite underneath, returned $13.60 for a one-dollar wager.

Studlydoright was a $110,000 auction purchase last October at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale. He is a colt by Nyquist out of the Curlin mare Peach of a Gal, a minor stakes winner on the turf. Studlydoright was bred in Maryland by Glenangus Farm LLC.

While Brittany Russell, who trains Biscuitwiththeboss, winner of Saturday’s first two-year-old race of the season, said she generally doesn’t aim to have early two-year-olds, Robb is just the opposite. In fact, he has started seven juveniles during Laurel’s last three spring meets combined; that’s more than any other trainer.

“I try to buy horses that are bred January and February and get them ready early,” Robb explained. “The racing’s a lot easier, and you can do a lot more with them.”

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