Saxton gamely re-rallied along the fence to nip Slam Notion by a lip. (Jim McCue/TMJC)
Cuz Ur Pretty wins second consecutive start
Dan Illman/The Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Multiple stakes-placed Saxton displayed his usual speed, then gamely re-rallied along the fence to nip Slam Notion by a lip in Friday’s featured eighth race, a $49,000 first-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.
Trained by Cal Lynch for Nick Sanna Stables and Lynch Racing, Saxton received a little help at the start when Mission First completely blew the break. That allowed favored Saxton a clear path to the early lead, and jockey Mychel Sanchez nursed him along through an opening quarter of 23.29 seconds.
“The instructions were actually to sit back a couple of lengths because it looked like there were a couple of horses with speed, especially [Mission First],” Sanchez said. “Today, he broke incredible. I don’t take anything easy away from the horses. When I broke like that, I went on with it.”
Slam Notion turned up the heat to draw alongside Saxton after a half-mile in 46.49 and even placed his head in front in the upper stretch. However, Slam Notion’s rider, J G Torrealba, dropped the stick, which might have made a big difference in the outcome.
Racing with Lasix for the first time, Saxton got his second wind, dug in along the inside, and captured the head bob after 1:11.18 over a good track. Change My World finished third, 5 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up. Then came Shootersgottashoot and Mission First. War Humor scratched.
Saxton returned $4.20 to Win.
“For a second, when the runner-up got to me at the quarter pole, I [wondered] if I was in a little trouble,” Sanchez continued. “He went to the right lead, and he put his game face on. He didn’t want to lose. He was really fighting really hard the whole stretch. All the credit to the horse.”
Saxton displayed versatility in his first two starts, rallying from off the pace to win a restricted maiden special weight over the turf at Colonial before wiring an off-turf first-level allowance at Laurel on Oct. 4.
The Mosler gelding then finished his juvenile campaign by running third in the James F. Lewis Stakes, second in the restricted Maryland Juvenile, and fourth in the Heft Stakes.
Bred in Virginia by Lazy Lane Farms, Saxton sold for $27,000 as a yearling before being purchased by Lynch the following May for $22,000.
Sanchez believes Saxton is a “really promising horse,” and trainer Brittany Russell agrees. She claimed Saxton for $62,500 for Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group.
Cuz Ur Pretty wins second consecutive start
“I thought you died,” jockey Julio Hernandez told owner Marcello Rosa as they led Cuz Ur Pretty into the winner’s circle after the sixth race, a $53,000 second-level allowance with a $40,000 claiming option at six furlongs. “I could hear you screaming at the eighth pole.”
Rosa had every reason to be excited as he exhorted Hernandez home by a length over fast-closing My Flicker. After all, he had purchased the 5-year-old Sharp Azteca mare for only $6,000 as a juvenile, and she has now captured six of 13 races for earnings of $146,470.
Cuz Ur Pretty might have found a home in Maryland. Based in New York for most of her career, she shipped to Laurel for her final start of 2024 and registered a rallying victory when racing for the $40,000 claiming option. Trained that day by Lisa Reed, Cuz Ur Pretty was saddled this afternoon by Rudy Sanchez-Salomon.
“I just got her two weeks ago tomorrow,” said Sanchez-Salomon. “They offered [her to me], and I just bought 25%. She’s a nice filly. She’s got a few issues, but I think we’ve got them taken care of.”
Hernandez placed Cuz Ur Pretty in the second flight as Peak of Chic, Winkiwinki, and Mattitude contested fractions of 22.38 and 46.34 seconds. They angled four wide into the stretch, moved past the leaders, and drove under the wire in 1:11.75.
“Julio followed the perfect instructions,” said Sanchez-Salomon. “He knew the horse and we just told him to sit off the pace. She finished running really, really strong.”
Bred in Kentucky by Jay Goodwin and Cloyce Clark Jr., Cuz Ur Pretty was initially sold at public auction for $20,000 as a short yearling before being bought by Rosa. She is out of an unraced half-sister to stakes-placed Mineswept from the family of Grade/Group 2 winners Limehouse and Blues and Royals.
Around the track > > >
Racing resumes Saturday afternoon at 12:10 p.m. ET with a nine-race program featuring four stakes worth $600,000 in purse money…
Prince of Jericho is the 6-5 morning line favorite in the $200,000 General George Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs…
Irish Maxima is even-money on the line for the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes for fillies and mares at seven-eighths. Fellow Parx invader Offaly Cool was lined at 8-5 for the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles while Aqueduct shipper Headline Numbers is listed at 6-5 for the $100,000 Nellie Morse Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles…
Stakes-winner Crab Daddy, most recently second in the Spectacular Bid Stakes on Jan. 25, breezed five furlongs this morning in 1:01.80 for trainer Linda Albert. The 3-year-old gelding by Uncle Lino is pointing for next Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at one mile.
