Nominations released for General George, Fritchie

Laurel Park released nominations for four stakes races scheduled for Feb. 15.

Graded stakes winners Coastal Mission and Repo Rocks are among the 26 nominees for the $200,000 General George Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs.

Millionaire Coastal Mission finished fourth in Aqueduct’s Toboggan Stakes on Feb. 1 for trainer Jeff Runco. Repo Rocks, a 10-time winner with $994,246 in lifetime earnings, recently finished fourth to fellow General George nominee Prince of Jericho in Laurel’s Fire Plug Stakes on Jan. 18. Trained by Jamie Ness, Repo Rocks received a 111 Beyer Speed Figure when winning the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct in 2023.

Multiple stakes-winners Celtic Contender and Top Gunner, stakes-winner Quint’s Brew, and impressive allowance winners Worcester, Wild Vine, Mr. Antonelli, Crazy Mason, Cyclone Mischief, and Suga Steve all add spice to the General George nomination list.

Jody’s Pride, second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2023, and most recently a close third in last month’s Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream, leads the 18 nominations for the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. Trained by Jorge Abreu, Jody’s Pride is a multiple stakes-winner around one turn.

Irish Maxima, trained by John Servis, has captured four of her last five races, including Parx’s Mrs. Claus Stakes on New Year’s Eve. Irish Maxima took the field gate-to-wire that day, won the race by 13 ¾ lengths, and received a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Ms. Bucchero won her final two starts last year for trainer Diane Morici, both against stakes company. The speedy filly lasted to take the What a Summer Stakes at six furlongs on Jan. 18, besting fellow Barbara Fritchie nominee St. Benedict’s Prep by a nose. Multiple stakes-winners Miss Harriett and Opus Forty Two, as well as stakes-winner Spencerian, are among the notable nominations.

Repo Rocks, Wild Vine, and Quint’s Brew were cross-nominated to the $100,000 James B. Campbell Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles. Grade 2 winner Instant Coffee joins multiple stakes-winners Armando R, Film Star and Offaly Cool, and Maryland Million Classic winner Brilliant Ice among the 17 nominees.

The $100,000 Nellie Morse Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles attracted 17 nominations. Multiple stakes-winners Miss New York, Call Another Play, Saddle Up Jessie, and cross-entered Opus Forty Two would figure prominently along with recent Carousel Stakes heroine Sea Dancer.

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