William Branch's Carotari, returning to the site of his most recent victory, fended off Comedy Town the length of the stretch and got his nose down in time for a dramatic triumph in the $100,000 Laurel Dash Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
The 24th running of the Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up sprinting five furlongs on the grass anchored four stakes worth $400,000 in purses on the final Saturday program of the nine-day fall meet.
In earlier stakes, Can the Queen defended her title in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash, Smash Ticket dominated the $100,000 Weather Vane, and Benevengo won the $100,000 Polynesian.
Carotari, a gelded son Artie Schiller, had finished off the board in back-to-back stakes since winning the five-furlong Jim McKay Turf Sprint May 21 on the undercard of the 147th Preakness Stakes (G1), his 6-year-old season debut. That victory, like the Laurel Dash, came in front-running fashion though by a comfortable 1 ½ lengths.
“There wasn't a whole lot of options, to be honest,” Erin Lynch, wife and assistant to trainer Brian Lynch, said. “There is no turf at Churchill at the moment, which is where we're based, so it was either [run] here or go against the big guns at Keeneland and we know he likes this track because he won here on Preakness day. So, this was the obvious choice.”
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven, Carotari was guided to the front by jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who was also aboard Smash Ticket two races earlier. They went the opening quarter-mile in 22.06 seconds chased by Comedy Town, who closed the gap to a half-length after four furlongs went in :44.53.
The two were inseparable as they straightened for home, with Carotari digging in along the rail and Angel Cruz encouraging Comedy Town to his outside. They separated from the field and approached the wire together with Carotari winning the head bob after covering the distance in 56.20 seconds over the firm course.
“I just was thinking, 'Hang on there, buddy,'” Lynch said. “He can get a little intimidated on the inside there sometimes, so I was just hoping he was going to put his head down at the right time and he did.”
It was another length back to Matta, who was two lengths better than Grateful Bred for third. They were followed by Justwaveandsmile, Spycraft and Sky's Not Falling. Defend was scratched.
A claim of foul by Feargal Lynch, the rider of Matta, against Carotari alleging interference shortly after the start was dismissed by the stewards.
The Laurel Dash was the 11th career win and sixth in a stakes for Carotari, the others coming at Gulfstream Park and Ellis Park. He also finished second by a half-length in the 2021 Troy (G3) at Saratoga, and is approaching $700,000 in purse earnings from 29 starts.
“So proud of him. He is just the coolest horse,” Lynch said. “He's such a cool dude.”
Can The Queen Scores Repeat In Sensible Lady Turf Dash
Joanne Shankle's Can the Queen will reign for another year after reeling in pacesetter Spicy Marg and drawing away by 1 ¾ lengths to defend her title in the Sensible Lady Turf Dash.
Ridden by Jean Alvelo, Can the Queen ($18.40) completed the distance in :56.60 over a firm course and provided Shankle with her first stakes victory as a trainer, six days after registering her first training win. The multiple stakes-winning owner had worked the past 10 years as an assistant to Rudy Sanchez-Salomon.
It was also the third straight win from five career tries over the Pimlico course, all three wins coming in stakes following the 2021 Sensible Lady and May 20 The Very One.
“I thought she would be more of a favorite than a long shot,” Shankle said. “She loves this turf course here.”
Spicy Marg, trained by Wesley Ward, was intent on the lead from her outside post position and rocketed through a quarter-mile in 21.77 seconds and a half in 44.55 as Dontletsweetfoolya, a multiple stakes winner on dirt, and Can the Queen gave closest chase. Spicy Marg turned for home still in front and going well but Can the Queen gained steadily through the lane.
“I was told to try and get her to the lead [or] try to get her close. I just kept her busy and kept her close, and she just responded. She did really well,” Alvelo said. “I was thinking if she just keeps running the same pace she's going to run right [by] him. She had a lot in her and when I asked her, she just gave me even more.”
Whispurring Kitten closed stoutly from far back to be second, a neck ahead of 30-1 long shot Can't Buy Love. It was another nose back to Spicy Marg, followed by Honey Pants, Ellanation, Dontletsweetfoolya, Miss J McKay, Creative Credit, Grade 3 winner Robin Sparkles and Golden Can.
Can the Queen now has seven wins from 19 career starts. She entered the Sensible Lady have run seventh, beaten 4 ¼ lengths, in the 5 ½-furlong Jameela contested over a Laurel Park turf course July 30.
“She was doing well,” Shankle said. “We gave her a little break in between the race. She worked very well last time and I knew she was going to show up.”
Smash Ticket Impressive in Weather Vane Victory
Brad King, Stan Kirby, Suzanne Kirby and Barbara Coleman's Smash Ticket registered her first stakes victory in emphatic fashion, sprinting to a popular front-running 6 ¼-length decision in the Weather Vane.
Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche for trainer Rob Atras, both based in New York, Smash Ticket ($4) was never threatened in extending her win streak to three races, all this year. She returned from nearly 10 months away to capture a Lone Star allowance May 30 for previous trainer Todd Fincher before a gutsy neck triumph over older horses July 20 at Saratoga, also with Carmouche aboard.
“I thought she improved at least five, six lengths underneath me,” Carmouche said. “I know last time Rob told me he never had her where he wanted her for the race, but I thought she was the best filly in that race at Saratoga. Coming into this race when I warmed her up, man she felt so good and she was nice and relaxed, not sweating like last time. I knew Rob had her very, very tight today.”
Smash Ticket broke running as the even-money favorite from Post 2, posting fractions of :23.12 and “45.35 seconds pressed by fellow New York shipper Elm Drive. Smash Ticket ran third behind Elm Drive in last August's Sorrento (G2) at Del Mar, which wound up being Smash Ticket's 2-year-old season finale.
Smash Ticket put away Elm Drive once straightened for home, going five furlongs in :56.60 and opening up down the stretch to win in 1:09.99 for the six furlongs over a fast main track.
Brad Cox-trained Famed came running late for second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Moody Woman, who edged Swayin to and Fro by a nose for third.
Glowsity, Elm Drive, May 21 Miss Preakness (G3) winner Lady Scarlet, Buy the Best, Sweet Gracie and Sweet Solare completed the order of finish.
“I thought she was the fastest horse in the race. I knew I would get a little pressure probably for the first quarter of a mile,” Carmouche said. “Rob took his time getting this horse back to the races. She warmed up really, really good today, better than last time, and I knew when she left there today I could get her to settle really good, and she did the rest. You don't have to do much on good horses.”
Benevengo Wins Polynesian
Wasabi Ventures Stables LLC's Benevengo, a former $25,000 claimer who finished fifth in the Haskell (G1) last time out, went gate-to-wire in the Polynesian, winning by 7 ½ lengths.
A 3-year-old son of Gormley trained by Jesus Cruz and ridden by Angel Cruz, Benevengo covered the 1 1/16-mile in 1:43.62. Double Crown was second and Rough Sea was third.
Claimed out of his winning debut at Tampa in February for $25,000, Benevengo has won three of six starts, all three gate-to-wire. Breaking on top in the Polynesian, Benevengo cruised through fractions of :23.64, :47 and 1:11.10. Sea Foam, who broke a bit awkwardly, chased the winner from second but couldn't get close down the stretch.
“When I saw [Sea Foam] didn't break good I just took the lead and hoped for a slow pace,” said Angel Cruz.
“When I saw the :47 I said that it's over,” said Jesus Cruz.
Benevengo, who has now beaten older horses twice, may start next in the Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs.
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