Monticello pulls clear to break her maiden Friday at Pimlico (Jim McCue/MJC)
Rainbow 6, Jackpot Super High Five Carryovers for Saturday
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
BALTIMORE, Md.— Peachtree Stable homebred Monticello shook off a challenge from Arnaud Delacour-trained stablemate Tales to Tell in mid-stretch and pulled clear for a front-running triumph in Race 2 Friday, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies that served as the opening day feature of historic Pimlico Race Course’s boutique nine-day fall meet.
Monticello ($15.40), a bay daughter of 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist making her career debut, was pressed up front by Sharmin through a quarter-mile in 24.92 seconds and a half in 50.49 until Tale to Tell, also in her unveiling, picked up the chase after six furlongs went in 1:14.83. Racing on the inside under Victor Carrasco, Monticello was resurgent when challenged at the eighth pole and went on to win by 1 ½ lengths in 1:39.24 for one mile over a firm turf course.
Little Man Farm’s homebred Tidewater ($10.60) came with a steady run through the stretch on the far outside to nail pacesetting Tall Order at the wire in Race 6, a five-furlong turf sprint allowance for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up. Ridden by Sheldon Russell for trainer Anthony Aguirre Jr., the 3-year-old gelding won in 58.04 seconds for his second straight victory following a maiden special weight score going six furlongs Aug. 19 at Laurel Park, also against older horses.
Race 7, a six-furlong allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up, saw Helen Marshall’s Take Charge Too ($11.40), a homebred daughter of 2013 champion juvenile Will Take Charge, take command from the start and turn back a late bid by favored Order Ofthe Kettle for her second straight victory. The winning time was 1:10.92 over a fast main track.
Notes
Apprentice jockey Axel Concepcion and trainer Jamie Ness teamed up for back-to-back winners Friday with Paradise Pride ($2.60) in Race 3 and American Unity ($4) in Race 4 …
Jeiron Barbosa swept the late double with Take Charge Too ($11.40) in Race 7 and Bandonarun ($4.80) in Race 9 …
There will be carryovers of $3,124.42 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 4-9) and $1,341.94 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) for Saturday’s card, which begins at 12:25 p.m. …
Saturday’s feature is a stakes-quality third-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs in Race 8. Among the field are stakes winners Dollarization, Dontmesawithme and Hello Hot Rod; the coupled entry of Kadri and Grade 1-placed Borracho, both trained and co-owned by Jamie Ness with 19 combined career wins; Pirate Rick, who ran in five straight Grade 3 stakes over the winter and spring; and stakes-placed Backnthewoods. Borracho and Pirate Rick are cross-entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Challedon for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up which have never won an open sweepstakes.
