Mopo Racing’s Ms Notion, a popular runaway winner of her unveiling last month, looks to add stakes credentials second time out when she faces six seasoned rivals in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly.

Trained by Phil Capuano for an ownership group led by retired TV personality Maury Povich, Ms Notion is a daughter of Great Notion bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman that fetched $52,000 as a yearling last fall at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale. Some of Mopo’s top horses include multiple stakes winner Alwaysinahurry and fellow six-figure earners Dixie Drawl, Walk Away Joe, Jackie A and the late filly Moquist, who went 4-0 in her lone season of racing in 2021.

“That group, they’re so good. They’re all so patient. They’ve had some really nice horses and I think if things keep going well with her, she could be another really nice filly for them,” Capuano said. “Hopefully things work out this weekend and gives them something to keep their head up about going into the new year.”

Ms Notion launched her career Nov. 15 in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel, where she went off the narrow favorite in a field of 10. After sitting just off the pace for a half-mile, she forged a short lead turning for home and edged clear to win by four lengths.

“She’s always shown she’s got quite a bit of talent; it was just a case of being patient enough with her just to allow her to show us what she did in her debut,” Capuano said. “She’s always been a very forward-training filly. It was just giving her the right amount of time and patience. We’re excited to have her in that race.”

Ms Notion broke outside all her foes in debut but will be facing a much different circumstance Saturday, having drawn the rail. Tais Lyapustina returns to ride.

“Really her only big caveat is she’s such a hot-tempered filly, the gate’s really been her biggest issue. The first time out having the far outside post was a bit of a blessing. This time she’s got the rail, so you kind of go from one extreme to the other. You hope that everything works out,” Capuano said. “Her first time out she had everything go her way. She broke well, was able to sit off the pace and she made her move on the turn and just kept on going. This time there’s probably going to be a little more adversity.

“There’s enough speed to her outside. She might have to get some kickback. You just don’t really know until they experience it. It’s easier beating maidens than it is winners. Now she’s going to be running against horses that have won a few times,” he added. “Caprice is a real nice filly and so is Malibu Hooch. It’s a big step up in class but it’s still a restricted race, which is good. As long as she’s doing well over the next few days, we’ll take a shot and see what happens.”

Caprice (Post 4) is a three-time stakes winner for owner-breeder Runnymoore Racing, having rebounded from her first career loss in the one-mile White Clay Creek Oct. 9 at Delaware Park to win Laurel’s six-furlong Smart Halo Nov. 9. Malibu Hooch, bred by Ronald Harris Parker and co-owned by him and trainer Todd Beattie, was beaten a neck in the Oct. 12 Maryland Million Lassie and bounced back to win an entry-level optional claiming allowance Nov. 16 – also six furlongs at Laurel – over a group that includes Juvenile Filly rivals Onyx Ten (second) and Safe Trust (third).

Onyx Ten’s stablemate, First Pearl, has run sixth in two prior stakes races, both at Delaware, and has not run since Oct. 2. Winner Circle Stables’ Ade exits a 5 ½-length maiden claiming triumph sprinting 5 ½ furlongs Nov. 8 at Laurel, her seventh start. She has also run second twice and third twice.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!