Jerry Dzierwinski/MJC
Among Six $100,000 Stakes on Christmastide Day Monday, Dec. 26
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Ronald Cuneo’s Armando R can put an exclamation point on what has been an outstanding fall meet for trainer Damon Dilodovico with a third consecutive stakes victory in the $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso Monday, Dec. 26 at Laurel Park.
The second running of the Manfuso for 3-year-olds and up going about 1 1/16 miles and 20th edition of the 1 1/8-mile Carousel for fillies and mares 3 and up are among six $100,000 stakes on an 11-race Christmastide Day program that marks the return of live racing following a week-long holiday break.
First race post time is 11:25 a.m.
Laurel-based Dilodovico ranks fourth with 18 wins from 61 starters during the calendar year-ending stand that began Sept. 30, a 30 percent success rate that is the best among leading trainers. Armando R owns two of those, in the Oct. 1 Japan Turf Cup and Nov. 26 Richard W. Small – his first stakes wins.
“It’s been a great meet. We’ve been very fortunate,” Dilodovico said. “This old guy, he doesn’t demand a lot. He just goes out there and does his job every day.”
Dilodovico claimed now 6-year-old Armando R for $16,000 out of a win last fall at Laurel, and the gelded son of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame has won four of nine starts in 2022 including three of his last four, banking more than $213,000.
Armando R is five-for-10 lifetime at Laurel, having won three straight over his home track. He went to the sidelines following a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming win June 12, returning to be fourth in a similar spot going one mile Sept. 3 at Delaware Park.
With that race under his belt, Armando R stepped up in the Japan Turf Cup – rained off the grass and run at 1 ¼ miles – to nail Beacon Hill near the wire and win by a neck. He followed up with a near carbon copy effort in the 1 1/8-mile Small, rolling past Grade 3 winner Cordmaker and Oct. 22 Maryland Million Classic winner Ournationonparade to win by a half-length.
“He’s doing really well. Ever since before the Delaware race …we’ve been very fortunate we’ve been able to keep him going pretty steady,” Dilodovico said. “He got a little sick coming out of the June race. That first race back at Delaware, not that it was a poor race but it was just not his best race on the season. No complaints with this guy. He’s been very solid for us.”
Armando R drew Post 5 in an overflow field of 12 with regular rider Horacio Karamanos aboard.
“I definitely think the longer the better for him,” Dilodovico said. “Even though it’s only a sixteenth of a mile [shorter than] his last race, we’re not nervous or concerned but we realize it might not be his best distance. If the race holds together it looks like there could be an abundance of pace, so that could help out.”
Both Ournationonparade and Cordmaker are entered in the Manfuso. Morris Kernan, Yo Berbs and trainer Jagger Inc.’s Ournationonparade had a four-race win streak snapped when second in the Small, one where he took a one-length lead into the stretch. His Classic victory came in the first start for his new connections off a $50,000 claim.
Hillwood Stable’s Cordmaker is the defending champion, winless in two starts since ending a 259-day gap following his 10th stakes win and first graded triumph in the Feb. 19 General George (G3). He was eighth in a one-mile optional claimer Nov. 4 and became a millionaire finishing third in the Small, beaten 1 ½ lengths, but trainer Rodney Jenkins was unsure whether the 7-year-old Curlin gelding would run.
“He came out of the last race OK,” Jenkins said, “I don’t think he’ll be ready to go yet.”
Cash is King and LC Racing’s Ridin with Biden won the 1 1/8-mile Deputed Testamony by 6 ¼ lengths in front-running fashion July 30 at Laurel, capturing the 1 ½-mile Greenwood Cup (G3) two starts later. Trained by Robert E. ‘Butch’ Reid Jr., who also entered Nov. 27 Discovery winner Eloquist, Ridin With Biden exits a 1 ¼-length triumph in the one-mile, 70-yard Turkey Trot Nov. 23 over his home track of Parx.
Completing the field are 2021 Manfuso runner-up Workin On a Dream; Southern District, third in a one-mile optional claimer Dec. 17 at Laurel; American d’Oro, sixth in the Small following back-to-back wins; Plot the Dots, second in the Deputed Testamony; and Nimitz Class, winner of the six-furlong Danzig June 3. Ain’t Da Beer Cold and 2020 Maryland Million Classic winner Monday Morning Qb are also-eligibles.
A longtime owner and breeder and former owner of both Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course who was instrumental in revitalizing Maryland racing, Robert T. Manfuso passed away in March 2020. Top-class runners bred and raised at Chanceland Farm with his life partner, trainer Katy Voss, include 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West, 2016 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Cathryn Sophia and Cordmaker.
