LAUREL, Md. – Robert D. Bone’s Completed Pass stumbled in tight quarters leaving the far turn but recovered to split horses in mid-stretch and sprint to a three-quarter-length victory in the 22nd running of the $100,000 Laurel Dash.
Ridden by Angel Cruz for Laurel’s summer meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez, 6-year-old gelding Completed Pass ($7) picked up his second career stakes win, both coming in Maryland, following the Jim McKay Turf Sprint last spring at Pimlico Race Course.
The winning time for 5 ½ furlongs over a Bowl Game turf course rated good was 1:04.41.
Singanothersong and Oldies But Goodies duked it out on the lead through fractions of 21.99 and 45.93 seconds midway into the turn, with Tempt Me Twice tracking on the outside in third and Completed Pass saving ground on the inside in fourth. Completed Pass stumbled as he went to move between Tempt Me Twice and Oldies But Goodies, got his legs back under him and took advantage after finding daylight between those rivals again inside the eighth pole.
“I had so much horse under me. Claudio told me to break good and, if not, to just sit patient and that’s what I did,” Cruz said. “I was waiting and waiting but I had tons of horse and my horse was just taking me to that hole. The hole closed on me real quick but then it opened back up and I just drew off. He loves it here. He’s a nice horse. Claudio had him ready and he did the job.”
So Street rallied on the far outside to be second, holding off Love You Much by a head. It was another half-length back to Lemon Zip in fourth, while Grade 1-winning favorite Wet Your Whistle checked in sixth.
2020 Laurel Dash Replay
Press Release
Photo: Completed Pass. Credit: Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club
