Local Motive dug in late to battle Beast or Famine in the Laurel Park stretch and take the James F. Lewis III Stakes by a head. After finishing third in the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes on Oct. 23, the win in the James F. Lewis gives the 2-year-old gelded son of Divining Rod his first stakes victory.
Local Motive broke fastest from the gate, but it was Amidships who made the lead early in the six-furlong stakes, holding a half-length advantage over Top the Chart and Local Motive in the first quarter of a mile. Jockey J.D. Acosta sent Local Motive as they approached the far turn, shortening Amidships' advantage as he went three-wide on the bend.
At the top of the stretch, Local Motive took over the lead, with Beast or Famine making a late move down the middle of the track. Local Motive battled on, eking out a short advantage as they hit the wire. No Sabe Nada was third.
The final time for the six furlongs was 1:10.16. Find this race's chart here.
Local Motive paid $8.20, $4.60, and $3.20. Beast or Famine paid $8.80 and $6.20. No Sabe Nada paid $3.20.
Bred in Maryland by Wasabi Ventures Stables, Greenspring Mares, and Bowman and Higgs Stable, Local Motive is out of the Not For Love mare Wild for Love. Trained by John Salzman, the 2-year-old gelding is owned by Bird Mobberly LLC. With the victory in the James F. Lewis III, Local Motive has three wins in six starts for career earnings of $161,160.
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