A winter storm bringing freezing rain, snow and ice to the Mid-Atlantic region has caused the Maryland Jockey Club to postpone live racing Friday at Laurel Park and bring back the 10-race program in its entirety Thursday, Feb. 25.
The MJC's OTB network, including Pimlico Race Course, will remain open for simulcasting.
In addition, the weekly national Stronach 5 wager has been cancelled. Laurel was to have hosted the first and third legs of the Stronach 5, which also included races from Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.
Three allowance races were part of Friday's card, including the return to Maryland of Grade 2 winner Shotski in Race 8, a second-level optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up going about 1 1/16 miles. Dudley Square, a Jan. 22 allowance winner at Laurel for trainer Todd Pletcher, is the 8-5 program favorite.
Mostly sunny skies and a high temperature of 33 degrees are forecast for Saturday's Winter Sprintfest, a nine-race program featuring six stakes worth $900,000 in purses co-headlined by the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) for females and $250,000 General George (G3).
Also on the program are the $100,000 Miracle Wood going one mile for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies sprinting seven furlongs, and $100,000 John B. Campbell and $100,000 Nellie Morse for older horses, both at about 1 1/16 miles, the latter for females.
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