1st Career Stakes Win, 4th on Day for Apprentice Concepcion
Gold Digging Broad Promoted Winner of $75,000 All Brandy
Mandatory Payouts for Sunday’s Closing Day Program
LAUREL, MD – Three Diamonds Farm’s multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Field Pass, given a heady ride by apprentice Axel Concepcion, came with a steady run down the center of the stretch to reel in Crabs N Beer for a neck victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Find at Laurel Park.
The 42nd running of the Find for 3-year-olds and up and 51st renewal of the $75,000 All Brandy for fillies and mares 3 and older, both restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses and run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, headlined the final Saturday program of Laurel’s 33-day summer meet.
Facing fellow Maryland-breds for the first time in his 35th career start, Field Pass ($10.20) covered the distance in 1:41.70 over a firm Fort Marcy turf course for his 10th lifetime win, eight of them in stakes, and complete a four-win day for Concepcion.
It was the first stakes victory for Concepcion, an 18-year-old native of Puerto Rico that rides with a five-pound weight allowance and is Maryland’s leading apprentice this year. He is represented by agent Tom Stift, who also has the book for Laurel jockeys Angel Cruz and Jeiron Barbosa.
“All three of them just work so hard and they’re like brothers. They feed off each other’s success and today it was Axel’s turn to have a huge day,” Stift said. “It’s awesome. He deserves every bit of it.”
Concepcion turned pro Jan. 1 in Puerto Rico, where he won 21 races before coming to the U.S. and earning his first domestic victory Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. His first Mid-Atlantic triumph came Feb. 25 at Laurel, and he was the leading rider during Laurel’s spring stand, his first full meet. Now with 28 wins, Concepcion is second to Jaime Rodriguez (36) in Laurel’s summer meet standings.
“Obviously, Mike [Maker]’s been watching the races and watching Axel ride. You don’t put a bug boy on a horse like that unless you’ve been paying attention,” Stifit said. “I do the numbers on the races and I send them to all the trainers and I let them know I’m open. Mike had texted me back and asked if I was open. I said, ‘Yes, who do you want? And he said, ‘Concepcion.’ I said, ‘You got it.’”
Field Pass and Concepcion had to steady in tight on the first turn and were unhurried running in seventh early as Wish Me Home broke sharply and went straight to the front, going the opening quarter-mile in 24.11 seconds with Tappin Cat, a multiple stakes winner on dirt racing for just the second time on grass, in close pursuit.
Down the backstretch Field Pass settled into full stride as Wish Me Home continued to lead through a half in 48 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.75 before being overtaken by Crabs N Beer, who had recovered from being carried out six wide on the first turn to race in contention throughout. Concepcion tipped Field Pass to the outside to launch their bid once straightened for home and they continued to gain on Crabs N Beer until surging past late.
Crabs N Beer held second, a half-length ahead of Wish Me Home, who edged Brittany Russell-trained stablemate The Addison Pour by a neck for third. They were followed by Tappin Cat, Sky’s Not Falling, My Boy Paddy and B Determined. Wicked Prankster was pulled up and walked off after bearing out on the first turn. Galerio, entered for main track only, and Tom Hagen were scratched.
It was the first win for Field Pass since being promoted to first in the Texas Turf Classic last summer at Lone Star. Among his graded-stakes wins is 2021 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3) at historic Pimlico Race Course. He pushed his career bankroll to more than $1.2 million with his 10th win, all at different racetracks from coast to coast.
After riding eight races Saturday at Laurel, Concepcion was named in six night races at Charles Town. He is named in three of nine races Sunday at Laurel.
“He’s got to be there in the morning at 6 a.m.,” Stift said. “He’s been doing it for months now. He’s on a mission.”
The Find is named for the Sagamore Farm homebred that raced through age 11, starting 110 times with 22 wins, 27 seconds and 27 thirds and purse earnings of $803,615. He won or placed in 51 stakes, retired in 1961 as Maryland’s all-time leading money winner and the second-richest gelding in history.
Gold Digging Broad Promoted Winner of $75,000 All Brandy
Jean Mahoney’s 3-year-old filly Gold Digging Broad, facing older horses for the fifth straight race, was credited with her first stakes victory following the disqualification of first-place finisher Downtown Katie in the $75,000 All Brandy.
Gold Digging Broad ($44.20), sent off at 21-1, established the early lead in the All Brandy and was in front through splits of 24.65 and 49.41 seconds tracked by 8-5 favorite Thegirlfromireland on her right flank and multiple stakes winner Coconut Cake in the clear three wide.
Under Carlos Lopez, Gold Digging Broad continued in command through the far turn when Thegirlfromireland forged a short lead nearing the stretch after six furlongs went in 1:12.66. Downtown Katie, after rating in mid-pack early, and jockey Jaime Rodriguez had maneuvered between horses and split Amplio Esquema on the rail and Gold Digging Broad, who had retaken the lead from Thegirlfromireland.
Downtown Katie continued on and held off Gold Digging Broad and Thegirlfromireland to cross the wire a nose in front. Following a steward’s inquiry and an objection from Amplio Esquema’s jockey Jeiron Barbosa, who checked slightly when passed by Downtown Katie, Gold Digging Broad was elevated to the win. Downtown Katie was placed sixth, one spot behind Amplio Esquema.
The winning time was 1:42.80 over a firm Kelso turf course. Intrepid Daydream, She’sarollingstone and Malibu Beauty, each entered for main track only, and Except Temptation were scratched.
Gold Digging Broad, a chestnut daughter of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, was claimed by trainer Miguel Vera for $12,500 out of a runner-up finish going 1 1/16 miles on the main track March 5 at Laurel. Since then, she has raced exclusively on grass and against elders with two wins and two thirds from five tries.
Bred by John Manfuso Sr., former owner of the Maryland Jockey Club, All Brandy was named Maryland’s champion 3-year-old filly of 1962 and would go on to win three stakes in 1963 including the Barbara Fritchie Handicap. All Brandy was also the granddam of Maryland’s 1981 champion 2-year-old colt A Magic Spray.
Notes: Jockey Jeiron Barbosa doubled Saturday aboard Memphis Showboat ($18.80) in Race 1 and Cannon’s Roar ($5.80) in Race 5 … Trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon sent out two winners, Hashtag Lucky ($5) in Race 2 and Shady Munni ($7.80) in Race 7 … Laurel Park will close its 33-day summer meet Sunday with a nine-race program starting at 12:25 p.m. There will be mandatory payouts in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 4-9), 50-cent Late Pick 5 (Races 5-9) and $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) wagers.