LAUREL, MD – Starting with Friday’s live nine-race program, Laurel Park shifts to a three-day weekend schedule for the remainder of the 2022 winter meet which is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 27.
Post time, currently at 12:25 p.m., will change to 12:40 p.m. starting Sunday, March 13.
Highlighting Friday’s card are a pair of entry-level allowances, the first coming in Race 6 for fillies and mares 4 and up going about 1 1/16 miles. No Guts No Glory Farm and Erica Upton’s Award Wanted is the 9-5 program favorite from far outside Post 8. The Macho Uno mare has finished in the top three in 13 of 21 career starts including four wins, and was third in the 2021 Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap.
Race 8 is an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs that attracted a field of six including Murph, winner of the 2021 Small Wonder at Delaware; Bandits Warrior, younger half-sister to retired multiple stakes winner Anna’s Bandit and stablemate Fuhgeddaboudit, impressive maiden special weight winner Feb. 18 at Laurel; multiple stakes-placed Beneath the Stars and Sweet Gracie, third to Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly Luna Belle in the Maryland Juvenile Fillies in December.
Nine races are also on tap for Saturday. Race 6 is a six-furlong allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up featuring Response Time, a winner of two straight for trainer Hamilton Smith, while Race 8 is a second-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up sprinting seven furlongs that includes Proper Attire, two-for-two since being claimed by trainer Jamie Ness, and stakes-placed Juror Number Four.
Saturday’s program at Laurel’s sister track, Gulfstream Park, will feature the career debut of St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable’s Hidden Plan, the narrow 3-1 program favorite in an overflow field of 16 for the seven-furlong maiden special weight.
By Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense out of the Polish Numbers mare Tanca, Hidden Plan was bred in Maryland by Laurel trainer Katy Voss and the late Bob Manfuso and is a 3-year-old half-brother to multiple stakes winner Cordmaker, by Curlin, who notched his first graded success in the Feb. 19 General George (G3).
Among the early group of nominees to the 2022 Triple Crown, Hidden Plan has been training for his unveiling since mid-December at Palm Beach Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He drew Post 8 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Also on Saturday, nominations close for Laurel’s March 19 program that includes five stakes worth $450,000 in purses led by the $100,000 Private Terms for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Beyond the Wire for 3-year-old fillies going one mile.
The Private Terms, at about 1 1/16 miles, is next in Maryland’s stakes series for 3-year-olds, preceded by the Spectacular Bid and Miracle Wood and followed by the $125,000 Federico Tesio going 1 1/8 miles April 16. Once again, the Tesio will be a ‘Win and In’ qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Other March 19 stakes are the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial for 4-year-olds and up at one mile and a pair of $75,000 sprints for Maryland-bred/sired horses – the Not For Love for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs and Conniver for fillies and mares 4 and up at seven furlongs.
Maryland Jockey Club Press Office
Photo: Laurel Park Starting Gate(Maryland Jockey Club)
