Miss New York. (Jerry Dzierwinski/MJC)
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David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Amo Racing USA’s Miss New York, a troubled runner-up in last year’s race, had smooth sailing the second time around to register a 1 ¼-length victory over a closing Princess Indy in Sunday’s $100,000 Twixt at Laurel Park.
Miss New York ($6.20) earned her second stakes win following last summer’s Boiling Springs at Monmouth Park, and second straight win at Laurel after her 3 ½-length triumph in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Aug. 17 under jockey Daniel Centeno.
Trained by Jorge Delgado, Miss New York settled in third in the early going as Continentalcongres outran 6-5 favorite Mystic Pleasure to the front after a quarter-mile in 23.90 seconds. Mystic Pleasure took over after a 47.51 half-mile as Miss New York closed the gap to get into contention, assuming the lead in mid-stretch and finishing in 1:38.72 over a main track rated good.
Princess Indy rallied for second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Mystic Pleasure, followed by Reclusive and Continentalcongres. Miss Justify, who won Saturday’s Seneca at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, and Saddle Up Jessie, third as the favorite in the Sept. 18 Obeah at Delaware Park, were scratched.
Centeno was also up for last year’s Twixt when Miss New York overcame a stumbled start to finish second behind 2022 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner Interstatedaydream, beaten 2 ¾ lengths.
“There were a couple scratches today and I knew [Mystic Pleasure] was the horse to beat and had speed,” Centeno said. “She actually ran the same way last time. I know this race was a little shorter at a mile, but it didn’t matter to her. She got a perfect trip the entire way.”
Twixt was a Maryland-bred champion every year she raced, from 1972-75, retiring as Maryland’s all-time money-winning mare. Her 18 stakes wins were also a Maryland-bred record on the flat. Bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Merryman and trained by their daughter, Katy Voss, Twixt won the Barbara Fritchie (G3) and was named Maryland’s Horse of the Year in 1973 and 1974.
