Laurel Park hosted four stakes Feb. 15, a roster topped by the track’s signature winter events, the $200,000 General George and the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie. Also on tap were a pair of $100,000, two-turn races, the Nellie Morse for fillies and mares and the John B. Campbell for the boys.

On a cold, rainy day, weather won, but speed didn’t do too badly, either: several winners went gate to wire and none was more than three lengths off the pace at any call. The winners: Sea Dancer (Nellie Morse), Irish Maxima (Fritchie), Speedyness (Campbell), and Quint’s Brew (General George).

Three of those — Irish Maxima, Speedyness, and Quint’s Brew — were on or just off the lead throughout before going on to win. The fourth, Sea Dancer, making her second career start on dirt, was tucked inside just a couple off the lead until finding an inside seam and drawing away to win.

Here’s what the winning connections had to say:

Clean faces win races!

-Jockey Jaime Rodriguez, after winning the Campbell on Speedyness

You couldn’t get too excited about his last race. But you can get a little excited about today’s race.

-Ned Allard, trainer of General George winner Quint’s Brew, comparing his runner’s win in the Jennings last out to today

She did work a little bit, but she’s the kind of horse, she kind of waits for that fight, too. So once they come to her, she’s going to kick on again.

-Jockey Frankie Pennington on Irish Maxima, a winner of two straight stakes

She’s a high-strung, high-energy filly… She’s a really eager, really good-training filly,

–Trainer Brittany Russell on Nellie Morse winner Sea Dancer

I always remember my dad when he was a steward, even before when he was riding, he goes, ‘You know, when a horse breaks through the gate, it’s the kiss of death.’ It’s almost impossible to win after that.

-Trainer John Servis, whose Irish Maxima broke through the gate before the Fritchie but went on to win

That was my plan. I told Ned [Allard], with having the three, four and five with speed, we could go to the lead if we wanted, but I think the best option was to sit off a little bit and go around, and it did play like that.

-Jockey Mychel Sanchez on the trip for Quint’s Brew

My agent told me when he ran the last time, he was like, ‘Man, I haven’t seen a [speed figure] like that in Laurel in a long time… So we’re really excited he showed up today again, so that’s huge.

-Sanchez, on Quint’s Brew

TODAY’S WINNERS

Barbara Fritchie Stakes – Fillies and mares 4yo and up, 7 furlongs, $200,000

General George Stakes – 4yo and up, 7 furlongs, $200,000