At Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., Luna Belle, who found trouble in the Maryland Million Lassie and Smart Halo Stakes, got a perfect trip under jockey Denis Araujo to win the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship by 2 ¾ lengths over Jester Calls Nojoy. Sweet Gracie was third.
Owned by Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith and trained by Smith, Luna Belle, a daughter of Great Notion, covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.31.
After breaking her maiden at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., in August, Luna Belle was steadied in the Maryland Million Lassie and was wide in the Smart Halo. She had no such issues Saturday. The Elkstone Group LLC's heavily favored Jester Calls Nojoy took the lead shortly after the start and breezed an opening quarter in :23.81 and a half in :48.05 under jockey Jevian Toledo. But Araujo moved Luna Belle toward the leader around the final turn and drove to the outside of Jester Calls Nojoy down the stretch before taking a clear lead inside the final eighth.
“She had two races there where she had a little bit of trouble,” Smith said. “I think we ran the best horse in the Maryland [Million Lassie], but she ran into trouble and got beat. But that's part of racing. Everything went her way today and she showed what she's worth. She's a real smart filly. I thought she was third good and I think the further she goes, the better she'll be.
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