Jerry Dzierwinski/MJC
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – LC Racing, James Bonner and Wellesley Stable’s Fore Harp, stepping up to stakes company for the first time in his 18th start, led every step of the way and had plenty left to turn back a late bid from Witty to register a two-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Dash at Laurel Park.
The 25th running of the Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up and 35th renewal of the $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and older, both sprinting six furlongs on the turf, served as supporting stakes to the $100,000 Concern for 3-year-old sprinters.
Trained by Robert E. ‘Butch’ Reid Jr., Fore Harp ($11.60) finished up in 1:11.29 over a Fort Marcy course rated good to give jockey Sheldon Russell a sweep of the turf stakes after guiding Coconut Cake to victory for trainer and co-owner Tim Keefe in the Jameela. Earlier in the day, Russell was named to replace Frankie Pennington on Fore Harp.
“We got another great ride from Sheldon Russell. He got to the front and stayed there,” Bonner said. “It’s taken [Fore Harp] a while to figure out he’s a turf horse. Butch has done a great job nursing him along to this point.”
Fore Harp entered the Laurel Dash having stretched out to a mile and 70 yards in his 5-year-old debut May 29 over his home track at Parx, forging a determined neck victory over fellow Pennsylvania-breds. It was the second straight turf sprint win over open company for Fore Harp, following a 5 ½-furlong optional claimer last November at Laurel.
“We were all shocked he got the two turns [last time]. So, we brought him back shorter,” Bonner said. “It went as we hoped. It was very exciting.”
Breaking from the outermost post in a field scratched down to seven with the withdrawal of multiple stakes winners Alwaysinahurry and Wondrwherecraigis, both entered for main track only, Fore Harp broke alertly and quickly found himself on the lead after the opening quarter-mile went in 23.15 seconds.
Fore Harp maintained his advantage after a half in 47.06 as favorite Mid Day Image, seeking his fourth straight win, raced along the rail with Noble Emotion three wide and stakes winner Grateful Bred between horses. Russell straightened for home in command and pulled clear of his pursuers as Witty, a multiple dirt stakes winner trying turf for the second time, belatedly made up ground on the far outside.
Witty finished 2 ½ lengths ahead of Mid Day Image for second, with Smokin’ Jay another 1 ¼ lengths back in fourth. Steal the Cash, Grateful Bred and Noble Emotion completed the order of finish.
Fore Harp improved his career record to six wins, three seconds and five thirds and pushed his bankroll near $300,000. He is now four-for-six since being moved to the grass last summer, with one second and two thirds.
Steinlen, winner of the inaugural 1988 Laurel Dash, won 11 graded-stakes and more than $3 million in purses over 45 starts for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Laurel Dash was contested as a Grade 3 from 1990 to 2000 and has been won by horsemen such as Hall of Fame jockeys Laffit Pincay Jr., Angel Cordero Jr., Chris McCarron and Edgar Prado and international champion Frankie Dettori; Hall of Fame trainers MacK Miller, Jack Fisher, Todd Pletcher, King Leatherbury and Bill Mott; and Hall of Fame rider Bill Shoemaker, the trainer of 1992 winner Glen Kate.
