Call Me Andy breaking his maiden on debut at Churchill Downs June 1st. (Coady Photography)
• Saturday Co-Headliner with $100K Md. Juvenile Filly • Apprentice Martina Rojas Registers Riding Double Friday
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, Ocean Reef Racing, White Mountain Stables and Stonecrest Farm’s Call Me Andy, twice stakes-placed over the summer, looks to break through in his first start outside of Kentucky in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Juvenile at Laurel Park.
The 42nd running of the Juvenile and 37th edition of the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly, both for Maryland-bred/sired horses sprinting seven furlongs, headline a nine-race card on opening weekend of the final month of the calendar year-ending fall meet.
Based in Kentucky with trainer Brendan Walsh, Call Me Andy has not raced since finishing off the board for the first time in a seven-furlong optional claiming in the slop Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs. His previous four starts, with a win and three thirds, all came over fast tracks.
“He’s doing fine,” Walsh said. “I thought he ran OK the last time. It wasn’t terrible, but hopefully he’ll be in with a better chance here. He’s going in there in good shape, anyway.”
Call Me Andy was a debut winner going 5 ½ furlongs June 1 at Churchill, then was third behind The Wine Steward in the six-furlong Bashford Manor and again as the favorite in the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile in mid-August.
“He’s been running well through the year, so you would hope that that form would transfer to the race on Saturday and that he’d be pretty live in there,” Walsh said. “We’ve always liked him. He’s done well up to his last race. Hopefully we can draw a line through that and get him back on track Saturday.”
Catahoula Moon winning the MM Distaff. (MJC Photo)
Fall meet leading rider Jevian Toledo has the call from Post 5 of 10 aboard Call Me Andy, who has done his best running thus far close to the pace.
“I don’t think he’ll want to be too far away,” Walsh said.
Call Me Andy is rated at 9-2 on the morning line, third choice behind Jagger Inc. homebred Speedyness (9-5), a winner of two straight since adding blinkers, and Maryland Million Nursery winner Catahoula Moon (7-2).
Sheilahs Warcloud, co-bred, owned and trained by Justin Nixon, is the 8-5 program favorite from outermost Post 8 in the Juvenile Filly, beaten a neck as the favorite in the Maryland Million Lassie in her previous start. Nov. 2 debut winner Binnie, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Crabcakes named for late Maryland horsewoman Elizabeth ‘Binnie’ Houghton, is next at 2-1.
In addition to live racing, Laurel will play host to its annual toy drive to benefit the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, a coffee and hot chocolate bar, curated stakes buffet and free 2024 calendar giveaway. For more information visit www.laurelpark.com
~ Notes ~
Five-pound apprentice Martina Rojas rode two winners on Friday’s card, Long Live Now ($11.20) in Race 2 and Lady Serenity ($10.80) in Race 5 …
Feeling Woozy ($7.80), stakes placed last year for owner-trainer Hamilton Smith, cruised to an easy victory in Race 7, a second-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up, in 1:51.99 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast main track …
Team Gaudet, David Bernsen and Susanna Wilson’s Beneath the Stars ($7.80) reeled in even-money favorite Quick Munny in deep stretch and edged clear in Race 8, a third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up. The winning time was 1:11.62 for six furlongs …
There will be carryovers of $2,566.01 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) and $924.94 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 4-9). First race post time is 12:25 p.m.
