“For one race today, it seems like it worked,” trainer Robbie Bailes said with a laugh after Saturday’s $49,000 allowance/optional claiming co-feature at Laurel Park. “Today I seem really smart.”

Of course, in racing, there’s always another day to seem, well, less smart.

But Bailes was able to enjoy a laugh today, as he sent out Double Airo to a dominant, five-length victory in the contest for three-year-old fillies.

The win, in which she was entered for the $62,500 claiming tag, was Double Airo’s second from five career starts. The winner’s share pushed her bankroll to more than $62,000.

Because she was in for the tag, she retains the allowance condition, and Bailes suggested that Double Airo, who is Virginia certified, might make her next start in a first-level allowance at Colonial Downs during that track’s mid-March mini-meet, which is highlighted by the Virginia Derby, offering 50 Kentucky Derby points to the winner.

In today’s contest, Double Airo, a filly by Airoforce, was away alertly to have a head in front in the opening jumps. But when She’s No Uncle quickly moved to attack, jockey JG Torrealba, aboard Double Airo, was content to cede the advantage to that runner.

Torrealba steered Double Airo outside of She’s No Uncle, with Little Cocoa Bean perched one path farther out. Rounding the turn, Torrealba gave Double Airo her cue, and she moved readily to and then right by She’s No Uncle.

Three lengths clear after three furlongs, Double Airo was never challenged in the lane en route to the win, stopping the timer in 1:06.75 for 5 ½ furlongs on a fast main track. Krissi N rallied into second, while She’s No Uncle held third.

Double Airo, the second choice in the five-horse field, paid $6.00 to win, topping an exacta that returned $12.50 for a one-dollar wager.

That Double Airo was resolute in the lane – after having faded in the stretch in her last two – may have been due to an equipment change, and it was why Bailes was feeling pretty smart.

“We switched up some equipment on her and closed the blinkers up a little bit,” Bailes explained. “The last couple of times she’s run, it seems like she wasn’t focusing.”

She was plenty focused today, though.

Double Airo is owned by Eric Rizer; he and his wife Nancy picked the filly up for just $3,000 at the December 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic mixed sale in Timonium. Among other horses, the Rizers bred and campaigned $500,000 earner Princess Kokachin, so it seemed odd to see them running a bargain basement horse they’d purchased.

“This was one I think they bought because they needed company for one out in the field,” Bailes said. “I told them they need to go find some more company. This filly, I’ve liked her all along.”