Charlton Baker hadn't been in the Laurel Park winner's circle in nearly five years. Dylan Davis had never been. Saturday, the New York-based horsemen came together to win the biggest race for females on the winter calendar at the Laurel, Md., track.
Baker and Michael Foster's Glass Ceiling sat in behind Jakarta for three-quarters for a mile before forging a short lead, then dig in again when the multiple stakes winner and twice graded-stakes placed mare came back for more in deep stretch for a half-length victory in the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3).
The 70th running of the Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and older sprinting seven furlongs was the fifth of six stakes worth $900,000 in purses on a rich winter program co-headlined by the 46th edition of the $250,000 General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.
In earlier stakes, Local Motive won the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds, Luna Belle captured the $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies, Galerio edged Forewarded in the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-year-olds and up and Kiss the Girl took the $100,000 Nellie Morse for fillies and mares 4 and older.
Glass Ceiling ($3.80) extended her win streak to three races including the six-furlong Garland of Roses in December at Aqueduct. It was her fourth win from seven tries since being claimed for $40,000 last May at Belmont Park by Baker, the Jamaica-born trainer that won the April 2017 Primonetta with Absatootly in his last trip to Laurel.
“The distance was the main thing why we came here. I was looking for a graded stake while she was running good, and this was the obvious race,” Baker said. “It was close. She's a fighter, so I was confident.”
Davis, whose sister, Katie, regularly rode in Maryland and is now married to jockey Trevor McCarthy, has been aboard for each of Glass Ceiling's last six races. It was his 12th career graded triumph and first win at Laurel.
“This is my first time in the winner's circle here. It's a good race to choose, right?” Davis said. “Major props to Charlie. He gets along well with her and he knows how to train her, and we were able to come in and get the money. It's great.”
Jakarta, third after setting the pace in the seven-furlong Inside Information (G2) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park, was able to get to the lead from her outside post and held it through fractions of 23.08 for the opening quarter-mile, 46.21 for the half and 1:11.04 for six furlongs. Davis had Glass Ceiling in striking position in second with Fille d'Esprit third on the rail.
“Sitting on the backside it looked like [Davis] was sitting real chilly,” Baker said. “But, the 23[-second] quarter I think was in favor of the speed horse, so she had to work down the lane.”
The top two hooked up once straightened for home and Glass Ceiling wrested a short lead in mid-stretch, but Jakarta dug in on her inside and stubbornly yielded late. It was a half-length back to Fille d'Esprit in third, and another three-quarters of a length to stakes winner Kaylasaurus in fourth.
Prodigy Doll, Belle of the North, Regal Retort and Bold Confection completed the order of finish. The winning time was 1:23.82 over a fast main track.
“I thought Jakarta was going to go and maybe Bold Confection, and I ended up seeing Jakarta on an easy lead. [Glass Ceiling is] pretty tactical so I was able to get to Jakarta pretty nicely, but when we turned for home Jakarta was fighting me pretty well,” Davis said. “I was able to just get away from her. [Jakarta] was engaging me pretty well but she was able to spurt on a little more, and she's a really game filly. I just feel like she's improved as an older mare. I never got on her earlier in her career but it just looks like she's really figuring things out. I think the maturity is really helping her.”
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