Duke of Gloucester in Sunday Laurel Feature. (Jim McCue/TMJC)
$30,635.73 carryover into Friday’s Early “Value Pick 5”
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md.—Duke of Gloucester took advantage of a hot pace to zoom past the exhausted leaders in Sunday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a third-level allowance with a $55,000 claiming option for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles.
Saddled by trainer Michael Moore for Hardesty Stables and Final Turn Racing Stable, Duke of Gloucester saved ground at the back as Secret Zipper sped off to a five-length advantage after quick fractions of 23.43 and 46.82 seconds.
Odds-on favorite Hittheroadjak, who acted up in the paddock, made the first move, and he confronted Secret Zipper following a three-quarter clocking in 1:12.35.
Hittheroadjak forged to a short lead, but jockey Dexter Haddock and Duke of Gloucester had built up a head of steam after angling three wide at the three-eighths pole.
Duke of Gloucester advanced at the three-sixteenths, and Hittheroadjak had little response. Under the wire, it was Duke of Gloucester by 5 ¼ lengths in 1:45.11 over the fast main track.
Hittheroadjak held second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Secret Zipper. Then came Crossland, Goodbye Note, and Ain’t Da Beer Cold.
Duke of Gloucester returned $9 as the public’s second betting choice.
“This race set up good,” Moore said. “Down the backside, I didn’t know if [Haddock] had horse because he was riding, but they were going fast.”
This is Duke of Gloucester’s second stint in Moore’s barn. The 5-year-old finished off the board in three starts for the Parx-based trainer earlier this spring before he was claimed for $40,000 by Jamie Ness on June 10.
Duke of Gloucester won his first start for Ness the following month, but Moore immediately pounced at the claim box, taking the horse for $40,000.
“I claimed him back because when I had him originally, I felt like he was a good horse, but I was missing something,” Moore explained. “He’s been good for us.”
Ten days after the reclaim, Duke of Gloucester walloped a second-level allowance field at Parx by 10 ¾ lengths.
“Did I expect that? Not really,” Moore said. “He’s a nice horse.”
Moore bumped Duke of Gloucester up in class for Parx’s $75,000 Mayor’s Mile on August 19, and the gelding finished fourth behind odds-on winner Offaly Cool.
“That was a tough race,” Moore stated. “Offaly Cool spotted them ten lengths and [still] won the race.”
Bred in Kentucky by Two Stamps Stables, Duke of Gloucester is by Air Force Blue out of a winning half-sister to French Group 3 winner Munitions. The second dam, War Echo, won the Grade 3 Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds, and is a half-sister to Louisiana Derby hero Pyro.
A $2,500 short yearling purchase, Duke of Gloucester sold for $40,000 as a 2-year-old in training. The veteran has raced for trainers Abdul Williams, Antonio Machado, Ashley Pierro, and Wayne Potts, but appears to have found a home with Moore. He sports a record of seven wins from 40 starts for earnings of $330,619.
Around the track … … ….. ……
Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. The first post time is 12:10 pm ET, and there is a $30,635.73 carryover into the Early “Value Pick 5” wager. The first five races on the Friday card comprise the Early “Value Pick 5,” a 50-cent minimum wager with a low 12% takeout rate…
Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays”. Kick back with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas in our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch begins at 11:00 am ET and the event runs through the final live race…
Tickets are available for “Cigars on the Rail,” presented by WBAL NewsRadio 1050 AM. Enjoy premium cigars, an open bar, a trackside luncheon, and great live horse racing on Saturday, September 20, between noon and 5 pm. Learn more at laurelpark.com/cigarsontherail…
Register for the Autumn Handicapping Tournament, a hybrid on-track and online event on Saturday, September 27. It’s a live money contest with a $500 buy-in. Top prizes include cash, a full seat to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, and two National Handicapping Championship Prize Packs. Learn more at https://www.laurelpark.com/autumnchallenge/
