“He did that so easy,” jockey Xavier Perez told assistant trainer Colton Moore as he piloted Mr. Antonelli to the winner’s circle following Friday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a conditioned allowance with a $55,000 claiming option.

Mr. Antonelli, a 5-year-old gelding by Mendelssohn conditioned by Diane Morici, tracked Tenebris and Seven’s Eleven as those two sped through fractions of 22.76 and 46.80 over a good racetrack that produced slow final times all day.

Seven’s Eleven put away Tenebris turning into the stretch, but Perez had Mr. Antonelli charging on the outside. The hard-trying Mr. Antonelli steadily reeled in Seven’s Eleven and continued about his business to prevail by 5 ½ lengths in 1:12.80.

Seven’s Eleven held second, a half-length better than late-charging Murray. Then came Tenebris and Five Dreams. No Cents and Debit Card scratched.

Mr. Antonelli returned $4 as the betting favorite.

“Everything we’ve asked of this horse, he’s done,” Moore said. “Getting this horse started, it was a little bit of a long road, but he’s come a long way. We’re super-happy with him.”

Moore mentioned that some “minor setbacks” have kept Mr. Antonelli from campaigning more often. Friday’s race was only the ninth start of his career.

“We just wanted to take our time with him,” Moore said. “Xavier loves this horse. He does a great job with him.”

Mr. Antonelli was bred in Kentucky by Hunter Valley Farm, Adrian Regan, Pat Barrett, Keith Lazarz, and Richie Galway. He sold for $82,000 as a short yearling before being purchased by Morici Racing Stable for $27,000 as an OBS April juvenile.

Mr. Antonelli has won three of his last four starts, and Moore said that “stakes are definitely in his future.”

NOTES One race earlier, Secret Zipper earned his third consecutive victory with a strong 7 ¼-length triumph in a first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Gary Capuano for owner-breeder Frank Sample, Secret Zipper gave jockey J. G. Torrealba his third win of the day… Trainer Kieron Magee won a pair…

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