Tag: dave’s friend stakes

Threes Over Deuces, Kaylasaurus Score MATCH Victories At Laurel

Pocket 3's Racing's Threes Over Deuces, narrowly beaten in his previous two starts, came out on the winning end of another close finish by surging between horses approaching the wire and getting his head down first to capture Sunday's $100,000 Dave's Friend at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 18th running of the Dave's Friend for 3-year-olds and up and 11th renewal of the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares 3 and up, both sprinting six furlongs, were among six $100,000 stakes on a nine-race Christmastide Day program.

Both races served as the finale in their respective divisions for the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series.

Threes Over Deuces ($26.60) earned his second career stakes win and first since being promoted to victory over Whereshetoldmetogo in last fall's New Castle at Delaware Park. The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding, second in the 2020 General George (G3) at Laurel, had gone winless through seven 2021 starts, beaten a neck while third to Whereshetoldmetogo in a New Castle rematch and second by head to Battle Station in a Nov. 14 optional claimer at Laurel.

“It was nice to turn the tables once on Whereshetoldmetogo. Hopefully it's the start of The Deuce getting back to [being] The Deuce,” Jon Madden, principal owner Pocket 3's Racing, said. “He's always fighting. He started the year slow and then started to get right. The last two races we sent him but with the new track we held him back, and it worked out.”

Threes Over Deuces settled off a 22.94-second opening quarter mile run by Newbomb, who maintained a short advantage after a half in 46.26 as a field that included multiple stakes winner Whereshetoldmetogo, Maryland Million Sprint winners Air Token and Karan's Notion and 14-time career winner Penguin Power began to close in.

Jockey Victor Rosales swung Threes Over Deuces out wide leaving the far turn and set him down for a drive to the wire, where they were able to edge past a stubborn Penguin Power and hold off a late bid on the far outside from Nov. 26 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial runner-up Youngest of Five, who wound up a nose behind Penguin Power. It was a length back to Air Token in fourth, with 3-2 favorite Whereshetoldmetogo checking in fifth. Grade 3 winner Laki was scratched.

The winning time was 1:10.94 over a fast main track.

“It was the plan to take him back today,” Rosales said. “In the early races the speed wasn't holding on, so we tried to take him from behind this time.”

Kaylasaurus made a last-to-first rally to win the Willa On the Move

Late Surge Powers Kaylasaurus in $100,000 Willa On the Move
Bush Racing Stable and Liberty House Racing's Kaylasaurus, trailing by as many as nine lengths at one point, completed a last-to-first move with an eye-catching rally through the stretch to surge past Princess Kokachin and win the $100,000 Willa On the Move.

It was the first career stakes win for Kaylasaurus ($13), a 5-year-old daughter of multiple Grade 2-winning sprinter Munnings racing first time off the claim for Penn National-based trainer Tim Kreiser. The winning time was 1:11.74 over a fast main track.

“She always makes that big move down the stretch, and Maryland's known for the quarter pole home is where you make your money,” Kreiser said, “so, we thought this would be the best spot to run her.”

Princess Kokachin, who extended her win streak to five with a front-running triumph over eight-time stakes winner Hello Beautiful in the Nov. 26 Politely at Laurel, broke running and held the advantage again over Hello Beautiful after going the opening quarter-mile in 22.30 seconds and the half in 45.77.

Jockey Xavier Perez and Princess Kokachin were still going easy on the turn as Hello Beautiful, favored at 4-5, was passed to her inside by 25-1 long shot Paisley Singing. Princess Kokachin was comfortably in front and going strong in mid-stretch but was no match for the devastating late run on the far outside from Kaylasaurus.

“We saw the pace was there,” Kreiser said. “[Hello Beautiful] was struggling trying to keep up with [Princess Kokachin], so I was feeling good about the three-eighths pole.”

Kaylasaurus won by 2 ¼ lengths over Princess Kokachin, with Paisley Singing another two lengths back in third. Dontletsweetfoolya and Hello Beautiful completed the order of finish. The winner was claimed for $25,000 out of a 3 ¼-length win going six furlongs Nov. 30 at Penn National and was making her third career stakes try. She finished 10th in the 2018 Gin Talking at Laurel and fourth in the Aug. 23 Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial at Parx.

“The race was good for my filly,” winning jockey Horacio Karamanos said. “The speed was going and she's got a beautiful finish, so I just sit in behind. They were going fast and I tried to be close but not rush her and when she started to move in the middle of the turn, I go little wide to look for the best spot and she give me a beautiful kick at the end. The last sixteenth of a mile, she was just galloping.”

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Laki Headlines Field For Dave’s Friend On Laurel’s Dec. 26 Card

Hillside Equestrian Meadows' Laki, unraced since finishing sixth in defense of last fall's Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash victory, is set to return for his 39th career start in the $100,000 Dave's Friend Dec. 26 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 18th running of the Dave's Friend for 3-year-olds and up and 11th renewal of the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, both sprinting six furlongs, are among six $100,000 stakes on a nine-race Christmastide Day program.

In addition to Dave's Friend and Willa On the Move, the Robert T. Manfuso for 3-year-olds and up at about 1 1/16 miles and the 1 1/8-mile Carousel for fillies and mares 3 and older close out the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series in their respective divisions.

Laki broke outwardly and was never able to get into contention in the six-furlong De Francis Sept. 18 at Laurel, winding up well behind first-place finisher Wondrwherecraigis, who would be disqualified to second for interference but go on to win the G3 Bold Ruler in his subsequent start.

The 8-year-old Cuba gelding was given plenty of time to recover by trainer Damon Dilodovico, not returning to the work tab until Nov. 21. His last two breezes have come since Laurel's main track underwent renovations in early December.

“I'm glad we were able to get a second breeze on the new surface. I think that will help,” Dilodovico said. “Maybe that will work out as an advantage for those of us that are stabled here.

“He seems ready. We gave him a little break after the Dash, which he always seems to come back well from. We're pretty happy with where he is right now,” he added. “He earned the time off. He's a warrior.”

Laki is 11-for-38 lifetime, including 19 for 24 in the top three at Laurel, with $833,162 in purse earnings. He has won at least one stakes race five straight years, a streak he extended in the Frank Y. Whiteley going six furlongs April 24 at historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. He also leads MATCH dirt sprinters with 21 points and will clinch a third straight division title following 2018 and 2019. The Series was shelved in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We may race him next year but I think we'll decide after this. We do plan on giving him another real winter break after this race and we'll see how he is afterward,” Dilodovico said. “[Owner Paul 'Buck'] Kalinowski will hopefully have a spot and can take him back home. He's rehabbed very well at his farm up in Connecticut.

“He's done a good job with him. Hopefully, he can take him up there and keep an eye on him and send us back a fresh old man,” he added. “That said, we won't [push] him. He's done his job. If he decides he wants to stop, we'll stop. But we are going into the season with at least the thought that we'll bring him back.”

Regular rider Horacio Karamanos has the call on Laki from the rail in a field of eight.

Sharing topweight of 124 pounds with Laki is Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber, and BTR Racing, Inc.'s Whereshetoldmetogo, a fellow multiple stakes winner that enters the Dave's Friend on a two-race win streak. Both victories, in the six-furlong New Castle Sept. 25 at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., and seven-furlong Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial against fellow Maryland-bred/sired horses Nov. 26 at Laurel, came by a neck.

“The last time he was kind of forced to go wide, and it's nice to kind of see him overcome some things, regardless of what the outcome is,” trainer Brittany Russell said. “In terms of how he gets the job done, he just gets it done. I think that's the main thing. He still wants to do it. He likes racing.”

A 6-year-old El Padrino gelding, Whereshetoldmetogo has won 13 of 31 career starts with $744,791 in purse earnings, and has six wins in eight tries at Laurel. Other wins this year have come in the Not For Love at Laurel and Alapocas Run at Delaware, along with a third in the Challedon at Pimlico.

“He's great. We always thought he was doing well when he was over at Pimlico, but he's a different horse over at Laurel when he trains. He's just happier,” Russell said. “Something about it, I don't know, back in the barn, just how he is on the racetrack and everything. Obviously, he shows he loves it in the afternoon. We're happy that [this] one is at Laurel and he's at home.”

Jevian Toledo, Maryland's leading rider at both the fall meet and overall for 2021, will be aboard for the third straight race from Post 4.

The Dave's Friend also attracted Karan's Notion and Air Token, respective upset winners of the 2020 and 2021 Maryland Million Sprint. Bred, owned, and trained by Nancy Heil, Karan's Notion is winless in eight starts this year including a runner-up finish to Whereshetoldmetogo in the Not For Love.

Air Token won the Oct. 23 Sprint by 2 ¼ lengths for owner-trainer Jose Corrales, then came back with a gutsy effort between Whereshetoldmetogo and Youngest of Five in the stretch to finish third by a neck in the Bender.

“Racing is a competition and you need a little bit of luck. The horse ran a big race and came back good and that's how you take it in this business. You're not always going to win,” Corrales said. “He's a horse that just keeps improving. He's a very consistent horse. He's a very nice horse and I'm happy to have him. He's a pleasure to have. He's got a great personality.”

Threes Over Deuces, promoted winner of last year's New Castle who ran third by a neck this fall; multiple West Virginia-bred stakes winner Penguin Power; Youngest of Five; and Newbomb complete the field.

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Landing Zone Ready To Start New Streak in Allaire Du Pont Stakes At Laurel

BB Horses' Landing Zone, who lost for the first time in five races in her most recent start, will get the chance to start a new streak when she lines up for her graded-stakes debut in Saturday's $150,000 Allaire du Pont (G3) at Laurel Park in Maryland.

The 27th running of the 1 1/8-mile du Pont for fillies and mares 3 and up, the last graded event on the East Coast in 2020, headlines a Christmastide Day program of eight stakes worth $850,000 in purses.

Landing Zone, trained by Claudio Gonzalez, strung together four consecutive wins from Aug. 13 to Oct. 18, all facing older horses, at distances ranging from one to 1 1/16 miles. She made her stakes debut in the seven-furlong Safely Kept Nov. 28 at Laurel, running third behind multiple stakes winner Hello Beautiful.

“The last race I tried her at seven-eighths and I believe it's too short for her. Still, she didn't run bad, because the winner is a nice filly,” Gonzalez said. “Now we'll try her long and, for me, it's going to be much better for her. She'll love it.”

Landing Zone, a 3-year-old daughter of Grade 1-winning millionaire Morning Line, drew Post 3 in a field of seven where all six of her rivals are already stakes winners. Angel Cruz will ride.

“She's a nice filly. She's always improving. The last few races she's run really big,” Gonzalez said. “She's more relaxed. She was very nervous in the paddock before and now she's relaxed, she's more mature. Hopefully as a 4-year-old she's going to be much better.”

Another of Gonzalez's sophomores, Euro Stable's multiple stakes winner Lebda, will take on his elders for the first time looking to snap a four-race losing streak in the $100,000 Dave's Friend for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs.

Winner of the Miracle Wood and Private Terms at Laurel to open 2020, he finished off the board in the Ohio Derby (G3) and Haskell (G1) and, most recently, the Chick Lang (G3) Oct. 1 at Pimlico Race Course. Scratched from the seven-furlong Concern Nov. 28 at Laurel with a minor foot issue, he will race for the first time as a gelding.

“He had to scratch last time but he came back good. We breezed him [Dec. 20] and he breezed good,” Gonzalez said. “The last time he had a problem with his feet. I put glue-on shoes on him and he was doing better and he breezed good. That's why we decide to run. It would be beautiful to see him win again but it's a tough race. It's the first time he's going to run against older horses and there's some tough horses in there. We're going to be happy if he tries and he comes back good.”

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Allaire du Pont Stakes Highlights Stakes-Heavy Christmastide Day Program At Laurel Dec. 26

Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's Grade 2-placed Eres Tu, unbeaten in two starts since returning from more a year layoff, goes after her third straight win and second in a stakes in the $150,000 Allaire du Pont (G3) Saturday, Dec. 26 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 27th running of the 1 1/8-mile du Pont for fillies and mares 3 and up, traditionally contested over Preakness (G1) weekend, was moved following racing's return from the coronavirus pause to serve as the headliner on a Christmastide Day program featuring eight stakes worth $850,000 in purses.

Joining the du Pont are four juvenile stakes – the $100,000 Gin Talking for fillies and $100,000 Heft, both sprinting seven furlongs, and $100,000 Anne Arundel County for fillies and $100,000 Howard County, each at about 1 1/16 miles.

Sprinters 3 and up will go six furlongs in the $100,000 Willa On the Move for females and $100,000 Dave's Friend, while the $100,000 Native Dancer for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles rounds out the stakes action. First race post time is 12:25 p.m.

Eres Tu went winless in three starts as a 3-year-old in 2019, running second to Needs Supervision in the Silverbulletday Stakes, third to subsequent Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and fourth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) behind Street Band, who would go on to capture the Cotillion (G1).

The 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon got a long break following the Fair Grounds Oaks and was moved from Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen to Fair Hill (Md.) Training Center-based Arnaud Delacour, who stayed patient bringing Eres Tu back to the races.

“I got her early in the summer, and she looked great. She's a big filly; she's 17 hands at least. Right away I really liked her,” Delacour said. “Everything she did before me she probably wasn't at her best because she's so big. She probably needed a little bit of time, so the owner gave her plenty of time and she came back really strong. She filled out nicely and to me she's a very nice prospect.”

Eres Tu, whose name translates to 'It's You' in Spanish, worked steadily for her return, which came in a 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance Oct. 14 at Keeneland – her first start in 19 months. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., she rated off just off the lead before taking over at the top of the stretch and going on to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

“I was not surprised because when you look at her form when she was with Steve Asmussen before, she ran against some Grade 1 fillies,” Delacour said. “She ran against Street Band, she ran against the winner of the Oaks that year. You're talking about solid horses she had to face and be competitive with, so I was pretty confident she could produce a good performance when she came back.”

Eres Tu made her Laurel debut in the 1 1/16-mile Thirty Eight Go Go Nov. 28, where she was overlooked at nearly 5-1 odds. Ridden by Trevor McCarthy, who gets a return call from Post 4, she stalked the leader for a half-mile, took over and opened up before cruising to the wire 1 ½ lengths in front while under wraps.

“She obviously has a good cruising speed and she can keep going. That's kind of what you want when you go two turns on the dirt,” Delacour said. “I'm pretty happy that we're going even longer, a mile and an eighth, because I think she'll be even more efficient. But, that's only a guess. She needs to confirm that.”

Five of Eres Tu's rivals also have graded-stakes experience led by Farfellow Farm Ltd.'s Another Broad. Purchased for $340,000 out of last November's Keeneland breeding stock sale and moved to Asmussen, she is winless with four thirds in seven 2020 starts having most recently finished third behind Grade 2 winners Envoutante and Bonny South in the 1 1/8-mile Falls City (G2) on Thanksgiving Day.

Fourth in last year's du Pont for previous trainer Todd Pletcher, Another Broad will break from Post 2 under Johan Rosado.

Flying P Stable, R. A. Hill Stable and trainer Danny Gargan's Ice Princess enters the du Pont off a runner-up finish behind Mrs. Danvers in the 1 1/8-mile Comely (G3) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct. The daughter of Grade 1 winner Palace Malice won the Maddie May Feb. 23 and was beaten a neck when second in the Fleet Indian Sept. 4, both against fellow New York-breds.

“She should have won the race at Saratoga. She had a really bad trip,” Gargan said. “She got stuck down on the inside and she doesn't like to be on the inside of horses. That's her big thing. She likes to be outside. But she's really never done anything wrong.”

Ice Princess has been first or second in four of her five 2020 starts, the lone exception coming when ninth to subsequent Preakness (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver in the Fantasy (G3) May 1 at Oaklawn Park.

“I shipped her to Oaklawn in a last-minute ditch effort because COVID hit and everything got canceled in New York,” Gargan said. “She got on a van and went all the way from New York to there and it just didn't work out for her. It was probably a bad decision just trying to make something happen. It didn't work out for us there, but she's always done pretty good.”

Ice Princess got some time off following the Fantasy and nearly won the Fleet Indian in her first start in four months. Victor Carrasco is named to ride from Post 5.

“She was a nice 2-year-old. She didn't get to run much this year because after the Oaklawn race I sent her and turned her out and they kind of canceled some races I was pointing toward,” Gargan said. “I didn't run her much before and we skipped a couple races because they were a little too short for her so I think the distance is never going to be a problem. She'll run all day.”

Howling Pigeon Farms, Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Madaket Stables' Needs Supervision is a two-time stakes winner, having beaten Eres Tu in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds and returning home to capture the seven-furlong Safely Kept last November at Laurel Park.

Based with trainer Jerry O'Dwyer at Laurel, where she owns a record of 2-2-2 from seven starts, Needs Supervision has run in 10 consecutive stakes including a third last out in Laurel's six-furlong Primonetta Nov. 28, her first start in 8 ½ months.

“I was a bit disappointed she was laying so far out of it early on. It took her a while to find her feet and get going and come home, but she came home well so I was glad to see that,” O'Dwyer said. “That's why I'm opting to go back to two turns with her. She's won [at] over a mile and 70 [yards] as a 2-year-old and she seems to have a good engine in her. I think she can carry it, so we're going to stretch her out.”

By 2012 Haskell (G1) winner Paynter, Needs Supervision will race for the first time with blinkers, O'Dwyer said. Fall meet-leading rider Sheldon Russell, up for her comeback race, has the assignment from outside post 7.

“She's been training good,” O'Dwyer said. “I do have the blinkers on her now. I'm putting them on her to help her relax and focus in that sense. We've had them on her in the morning and she's pretty relaxed in them, which is nice. So, we're going to put them on her and help her because she gets a little high-strung at times.”

Completing the field are Alittlelesstalk, a multiple stakes winner at Emerald Downs; Landing Zone, who had a four-race win streak snapped when third in the Safely Kept Nov. 28 at Laurel; and Wicked Awesome, winner of Laurel's 1 1/16-mile Twixt Stakes Sept. 5.

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