Celtic Contender. (Jerry Dzierwinski)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Lewis Family Racing Stable’s Celtic Contender responded when roused in mid-stretch and drew off to register a popular 1 ½-length victory in the $75,000 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial.
Ridden by Victor Carrasco for trainer Hamilton Smith, Celtic Contender ($4.40) covered the distance in 1:24.48 over a fast main track for his third win over the last four starts and second in a stakes following the Oct. 19 Maryland Million Sprint.
Celtic Contender raced between 30-1 long shot Freeze the Fire on the rail and multiple stakes winner Seven’s Eleven to his outside through an opening quarter-mile of 23.26 seconds. The top two remained unchanged after a half in 46.62 when Circle P ranged up on the outside to engage the new leader, but Celtic Contender was able to put away a stubborn Circle P inside the eighth pole and edge clear.
Circle P held second followed by Witty, Brilliant Ice, Freeze the Fire, Seven’s Eleven and Play Like a Raven.
Spencerian Becomes Stakes Winner in $75,000 Politely
Larry Rabold’s 4-year-old filly Spencerian powered through an opening along the inside at the top of the stretch to put away stakes-winning pacesetter Talk to the Judge and take the $75,000 Politely by two lengths.
It was the first stakes win for Spencerian ($8.80), third in the Maryland Million Distaff two starts back, and completed a sweep of the day’s Maryland-bred/sired stakes for jockey Victor Carrasco.
Talk to the Judge, sent off at 23-1, jumped out to an early lead going the first quarter in 22.94 seconds pressed by Royal Whisper as Carrasco and Spencerian settled in third. Talk to the Judge clung to a short lead at the top of the stretch before Spencerian came alive under Carrasco’s urging, surged to the lead and kept going.
Bella Bettina and 5-2 favorite Bourbon Bon Bay closed to be second and third, respectively, with Royal Whisper, Talk to the Judge, Sheilahs Warcloud, Pudd’n N Pie and Summer Odds completing the order of finish.
