Recruiter #8 remains undefeated in four career starts while capturing the $75,000 Parx Juvenile. (Photo Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)
By Maribeth Kalinich
BENSALEM, Pa.—Originally scheduled for last week but postponed for weather, the $75,000 Parx Juvenile for colts and geldings and the $75,000 Futurity for fillies was run today at Parx Racing & Casino.
On a sloppy, sealed track, the Cal Lynch-trained Recruiter, co-owned by Lynch and Nick Sanna Stables, splashed to the finish 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Ninetypercentmaddie under Paco Lopez.
Ridden by Mychel Sanchez, Recruiter broke first then slipped back to fourth as Hot Love, Luis Ocasio up, set an opening quarter of 22.33 Before fading to fifth.
Ninetypercentmaddie briefly took the lead with Winning Time piloted by Silvestre Gonzalez just behind. The latter took the lead as Recruiter moved up coming into the stretch as the three leaders separated in the stretch.
Recruiter would win by 2 3/4 lengths with Ninetypercentmaddie a length behind and Winning Time 2 1/4 back for third.
Day Dreaming, John Dutton, El de Chimi, V Mart and Hot Love complete the order of finish.
The son of Army Mule out of Medaglia d’Oro mare Lady Halite, Recruiter was bred in Florida by Beth Bayer. Lynch purchased the colt at the Ocala Breeders Sale for $125,000.
Recruiter has won all four of his starts winning his debut at Monmouth Park on Aug. 27 followed by an allowance at Laurel Park on Oct. 10. The dark bay colt won the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Nov. 11 earning Black Type.
Swilcan Stable LLC and LC Racing’s Girl Trouble had no trouble handling the rain and mud and field of 10 taking the $75,000 Parx Futurity for 3-year-old fillies by 5 1/4 lengths over longshot Empress Ariana.
Lindalovesgold broke first and quickly faded to fifth with Alexis’s Storm with Jeiron Barbosa up quickly going to the lead setting a first quarter of 22.82. With Paco Lopez up Girl Trouble moved up to challenge at the half mile with Interpolate under Kendrick Carmouche coming up to the leaders from behind.
Gold Medal Anna under Jonathan Ocasio came into the leaders as Girl Trouble drew away 5 lengths for the win. Empress Ariana under Jeremy Laprida was second and Gold Medal Anna was up for third. Both horses made game rallies from way behind to hit the board.
Interpolate, Majestic Creed, Lindalovesgold, Filme, My Sweet Khaile, Alexis’s Storm and Shiny Slam complete the order of finish.
Trained by Butch Reid, Girl Trouble has won her last three starts including the Future Stars Filly Division at Parx Nov. 29 earning Black Type. She was third in the White Clay Creek in October after placing in an AOC at Parx in Sept.
After missing by 3/4 of a length in her debut at Monmouth she won at second asking there in July by 1/2 a length. The bay filly has a record of four wins in seven starts with two seconds and a third.
Sired by Fast Anna Girl Trouble is out of Ghostzapper mare Adorabella. She was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2021 Eastern Fall Yearling sale for $15,000. So far, The filly has $202,500 career earnings more than making her a sound investment.
Racing resumes at Parx on Wednesday, Jan. 4 picking up on Monday, Jan. 9 both days with 11-race cards.
Wednesday features the $75,000 Blitzen Stakes (R8) for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs with a field of eight including Wendell Fong, Twisted Ride and Yodel E. A. Who. Also, the Kris Kringle Stakes (R9) for 4-year-olds at a mile and seventy yards featuring American Patrol and Eloquent and recent stakes inner Ridin with Biden among the field of eight.
The $75,000 Mrs. Claus Stakes (R10) for fillies and mare four and up at seven furlongs features a field of 11 two entries each from trainers Cal Lynch, Jonathan Wong and Robert Reid, Jr.
First post is 11:55 a.m. ET with very full fields in every race.
