Roanan Goddess. (Jerry Dzierwinski/MJC)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Mens Grille Racing’s Roanan Goddess, making her first start in two months, swept to the lead on the far outside leaving the far turn and powered through the stretch to a three-quarter-length victory over Discreet Ops in the $100,000 Safely Kept.
Ridden by J.G. Torrealba for trainer Hamilton Smith, Roanan Goddess ($13.80) completed seven furlongs in 1:23.63 over a fast main track for her third career stakes victory, all at Laurel.
“It was the last 3-year-old filly stake of the year, and we just waited for this. She needed a little time between races, and it worked out great. She ran well,” Smith said. “Beyond seven furlongs might be a problem, but she’s a middle-distance horse. She’s doing awfully good.”
Dazzling Move, favored at 6-5, took the field of eight through a quarter-mile in 22.55 seconds and was still in front after a half in 45.32, with Roanan Goddess moving into a contending position in third. Torrealba tipped out approaching the stretch and came with a steady run, holding off a late bid from Discreet Ops.
Sheilahs Warcloud was third, followed by Goodnightgodbless, Dazzling Move, Kissedbyanangel and Home Game. Ellen Jay and Don’t Tell Kelly were scratched.
“I told the kid of the two horses that scratched one of them had a little bit of speed, so just get her out of there good and see where you are and ride your race. He did just that,” Smith said. “I thought she was little further back than I expected her to be, but she came a running.”
The Safely Kept honors the champion sprinter of 1989 and member of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame Class of 2011. The daughter of longtime Maryland sire Horatius was the first sprinter to top $2 million in earnings, the first Maryland-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race in the 1990 Sprint (G1), a four-time Maryland-bred champion including Horse of the Year twice (1989,1990) and is one of only seven horses to win three Maryland Million races. She won 24 races, 22 in stakes, from 31 lifetime starts.
