LAUREL, MD—”He reminds me a lot of Walt’s Notion, in that nothing really bothers him,” trainer Phil Capuano said Sunday afternoon after first-time starter Jerry Inspires made two moves to win a $47,000 seven-furlong maiden special weight race at Laurel Park.

That’s high praise, considering Walt’s Notion, the winner of the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes and second in the restricted Maryland Million Nursery, is one of the Capuano barn’s standout horses.

“He’s done everything professionally,” Capuano continued after welcoming jockey Jeiron Barbosa to the winner’s circle. “He’s just been a nice horse from the get-go. He’s pretty quick.”

Jerry Inspires broke sharply and sparred for the lead between rail-drawn Start the Clock and a three-wide Konrad’s Corner, posting an opening quarter in 22.55 seconds.

For a brief moment, it looked as if Jerry Inspires was in deep water. He dropped back at the three-eighths pole, letting Konrad’s Corner and a wide Knee High take the lead after a half-mile in 45.78 seconds.

“I thought, ‘man, he’s dropping back,’” Capuano said. “But Barbosa still [wasn’t] really asking him. And then, once he angled out, he made another move and bears down on him.”

Undaunted by the ground loss on the turn, Barbosa maneuvered Jerry Inspires outside and into the clear. The 2-year-old responded with a solid late burst, prevailing by 2¾ lengths over the late-running Lasting Peace. Konrad’s Corner finished third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. Start the Clock, Knee High, and the favored Bet Me followed.

Jerry Inspires, the longest shot on the board, covered the distance in 1:26.25 and paid $23. Seismic Surge was scratched.

“It was just a really good ride by Barbosa, too, to take out of that speed duel with horses on his inside and outside, then angle out and make another run,” Capuano said. “I was a little worried about the seven-eighths distance-wise, but it probably ended up helping him. He needed that seven-eighths to get the job done.”

Barbosa, who rode two winners on Sunday’s card, was also impressed. “I think he has a good future. Phil told me he’s pretty quick and to try to save ground as much as I could. And that’s what I did. I’m just really patient, and I felt like I had a lot of horse, but my horse didn’t give me the kick at the three-eighths. I waited and tried to find the clear. At the quarter-pole, when he saw the clear, he finished really strong. I think he’s a really smart horse. He got dirt in his face, and he didn’t stop.”

Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Rebecca Davis, Jerry Inspires is sired by Engage out of Munning’s Favorite (by Munnings). His second dam, Golddigger Beware (by Prenup), was a multiple stakes-placed dirt sprinter. Jerry Inspires races in the silks of owner Louis Ulman.

“We bought him privately from another client of mine who was getting out [of the business],” Capuano said. “I went and looked at him [around] January or February in Virginia. For the right price, we took a shot with him. He bucked shins in early June, so we gave him a little time, and sent him to Delaware. Credit to Tori [Capuano’s sister and an excellent horsewoman] and everyone up there. They do a great job. Delaware has been good to our family, that’s for sure.”

As for what’s next, Capuano said, “We’ll probably let him run once against winners in an allowance race because that’s really the test. Beating maidens is one thing, but running against winners is another. I think he’s the kind of horse who, once he gets more experience, should continue to develop and blossom.”

*Jockey Leandro Briceno rides three winners

Jockey Leandro Briceno had a banner day, winning three races on the program.

The seven-pound apprentice rider guided favored Nantucket Love ($3.40) to a rousing 12-length victory in the third race, wired the field aboard trainer Nancy Heil’s Pneumo Warrior ($3.80) in the fourth, and kept Nial and Pray ($3.80) wide and in the clear in the finale for trainer Joe Murphy.

After completing his hat trick, Briceno told TMJC’s Emily Fewster that he began riding in Panama in 2022.

Briceno, a native of Venezuela, spent two years at jockey school in Panama. He came to the United States, rode for about six months at Gulfstream and in Ohio, and won eight races from 91 mounts in 2023.

Briceno stepped away from riding for a bit, but began galloping horses in Maryland for a couple of years “just to take my time and gain experience.”

Returning to racing in August, Briceno, a close friend of Maryland’s leading rider of 2025, Yedsit Hazlewood, won with his second mount back at Delaware Park. He is currently tied for third in the Laurel Park jockey standings, two wins behind the leader, Jaime Rodriguez.

When asked about his goals, Briceno said, “I have big dreams. I want to try for better opportunities here and at different tracks.”

*Around the track:

For the second consecutive day, trainer Robbie Bailes won two races at Laurel Park. Bailes has won with 10 of 25 starters since October 22, including Nantucket Love, claimed for $20,000 by Anthony Farrior, and first-time starter Razorknife ($8.40), ridden by jockey Carlos Lopez.

Live racing resumes Friday with a ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post is at 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Friday’s guide is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Jerry Inspires a Smart Debut Winner first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

LAUREL, MD—Seven years ago, jockey Sheldon Russell guided Lexitonian to an 18-1 upset victory in the Concern Stakes at Laurel Park.

At Laurel on Saturday, Russell gave a masterful ride aboard one of Lexitonian’s sons as Jack Rabbitness surged along the rail in the upper stretch to win the co-featured third race, a $37,000 waiver maiden for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

“You’re lucky I’m your husband,” Russell lovingly told trainer Brittany Russell after the hard-fought win. “I’m physically exhausted.”

Sheldon Russell definitely earned this victory.

Jack Rabbitness settled into the inside pocket as Mischief Mind controlled fractions of 24.18 and 48.56 seconds. When Mischief Mind drifted off the rail entering the stretch, Sheldon Russell made the winning move. He sent Jack Rabbitness through, and they worked hard to the wire, besting late-kicking Court Night by a neck in 1:48.93 on a good track.

“I feel like the ability is there,” Sheldon said. “It’s only his fourth run. I feel like he’s still learning. It was tight inside, but it was spotty. It was go-stop, go-stop. I had no option but to force him through there. It looked like he idled, but when we hit the wire, he saw the other horses and galloped out like a fresh horse.”

Tiz a God finished third, 1 ½ lengths behind the runner-up. Concho, Mischief Mind, favored Herecomesthecptn, Roll On Onyx, and Big News followed.

Jack Rabbitness paid $8,40 to win.

Maryland-bred gelding Jack Rabbitness, out of Love in Her Eyes (by Not This Time), was bred by trainer Jamie Ness’s Jagger Inc. He raced three times for Ness, finishing on the board in his second and third starts.

After Jack Rabbitness finished second in a one-turn mile on October 16, Brittany Russell claimed him for $25,000 from trainer Gary Aisquith.

Brittany said she liked Jack Rabbitness’s pedigree and looks when she claimed him. “First of all, he’s a Maryland-bred, so there are options. Even if he’s just a horse, there are still ways to make money with him. He’s still learning. To be fair, he’s been pretty straightforward since we claimed him. I think he just needs mileage and time to figure things out.”

Aisquith knows what it’s like to campaign talented horses, having owned Breeders’ Cup winners Monomoy Girl and Uni in partnership with Michael Dubb and others. Since fall 2024, Aisquith and Brittany Russell have claimed six horses, and all six won on their first start following the claim.

“Just let me know when you play the lottery,” Sheldon Russell told Aisquith in the winner’s circle.

*Double Airo loves life at Laurel

Double Airo made it five wins in six tries at Laurel Park with a gate-to-wire victory in the co-featured ninth race, a six-furlong event for fillies and mares with an Equibase Rating of 75 or less at the time of entry.

After the post parade concluded, Jockey Carlos Lopez gave Double Airo a vigorous warm-up, and Double Airo was sharp from the opening bell.

She snatched the lead from her rail post without much fuss, controlled fractions of 22.75 and 46.64, then dug deep to fend off Sassafrassness’s late kick, scoring by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:12.04.

Sassafrassness rallied wide for second, 4 ¼ lengths ahead of Kilo Road. Golden Rocket, Pinotslilgirl, who was bumped hard while advancing inside on the turn, and Chasing Sunsets completed the order of finish.

Double Airo, the betting favorite, paid $5.40 to win.

“Carlos rides the filly really good,” said trainer Robbie Bailes.

“He told me to break, get into position, slow down, and that’s it,” Lopez said. “When I [asked] her, she took off.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by PA Stallions, Double Airo is by Airoforce. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed dirt sprinter Doublebarrelvinny. Their second dam, Skating, finished third in Monmouth’s Little Silver Stakes at one mile on turf.

Purchased by Eric Rizer for $3,000 as a weanling, Double Airo earned a stakes placing at two, finishing third in Parx’s $100,000 Miss Behaviour Stakes. She won three races last year and three more in 2026. Today’s race was her first since August 7, but Bailes said nothing physical was amiss.

“We were having trouble finding races,” Bailes said. “Trust me, we didn’t want to wait that long.”

Double Airo has won 7 of 20 starts, earning $236,336.

*Around the track:

Lopez and Bailes swept the late Daily Double when first-time starter Continentaldrifter ($8.40) prompted and pounced to win the finale.

Jockey Jose Batista rode two winners on Saturday. In the fourth race, he sat the pocket aboard first-time starter Coach Holtz ($7), eased out into the stretch, and drove home best for trainer Cal Lynch. Trainer Hugh McMahon claimed Coach Holtz for $25,000. Batista then rallied on the outside aboard Can Am Winner ($7) to win the seventh race for trainer Ned Allard.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post is at 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Sunday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Jack Rabbitness Hops Up Rail in Sunday’s Co-Feature at Laurel Park first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

LAUREL, MD—Horse racing is a rare venture in which the plebeian and the patrician stand shoulder to shoulder, either rooting for their selections from the rail or bidding on prospects in the auction ring.

So it was with Plentyof Rogue’s debut at Laurel three weeks ago. A $4,500 yearling by Rogueish, Plentyof Rogue entered the gate alongside $1 million purchase Card Shark and $425,000 juvenile Frustrated.

Plentyof Rogue had the misfortune of facing Frustrated, who ran the fastest six-furlong heat of the current meet, but the plucky colt rallied in the final sixteenth to finish second, a length ahead of Card Shark.

Plentyof Rogue earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in that race, not bad for a first-time starter.

“He finished so strongly that day, and [jockey] Wesley [Ho] did a great job with him, not panicking, staying with him, and keeping him going. I think the light went on around the sixteenth pole,” said trainer Justin Nixon.

This afternoon, Plentyof Rogue faced no rival like Frustrated. Ridden again by Ho, the bay settled into the pocket behind his three foes in a six-furlong maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and upward, found a seam between horses turning into the stretch, and poured it on to win by 5 ½ lengths in 1:11.40 on the sealed, muddy track.

Fort Griffin led early with fractions of 22.67 and 46.60, then finished second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Scrutinator. Wyatt’s Way trailed.

“He’s come a long way,” Ho said. “He’s a quick learner. He handled the mud great today. I really didn’t have to ask him too much. He finished very well. I’m very pleased with the way he’s handled things.”

Plentyof Rogue, 8-1 in his debut, paid $2.80 today as the overwhelming favorite. Secret Notion and Mythical Magic scratched.

“He was loaded around the turn like he was a lot more into it,” Nixon said. “The first start, you could see him going through the motions the first half a mile.”

Bred in Florida by Edward Seltzer, Plentyof Rogue is owned by Lanis Legacy LLC. Nixon trained Plentyof Rogue’s dam, Sparkle Plenty, an Uncle Mo mare who finished a close second in her only career start. Her second dam, Sparkling Review, was a Grade 2 winner at longer turf distances.

Plentyof Rogue didn’t race at two because “he had a lot of baby issues because he was so big,” Nixon said. “He’s almost got too nice [of a mind]. As a young horse, he was like a teenager not wanting to get out of bed. You had to [work] him in company to get him to do something. He’s a very easygoing type of horse. I’m just really, really happy with him that it came together today. Even early on, I thought he had a lot of talent.”

Noting Sparkling Review’s ability on turf, Nixon said, “Ultimately, we’re going to try him on the grass, but we’re not going to change anything [right now].”

*Vekomamona continues to improve

Vekomamona continues to develop physically and mentally, and she reached the winner’s circle in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for juvenile fillies.

Trained by Jerry Robb for Mens Grille Racing and ridden by Xavier Perez, Vekomamona can be a handful. Robb brought her into the paddock early, and she looked the part, giving Perez confidence.

“This filly, she’s got a really hard temperament,” he said. “Her attitude is really feisty. The first time she ran, she was a wreck. She was so sweaty, washing out. Then, the second time, she improved a little. Today, when I walked to the paddock, I saw she was calm. There were a lot of horses in that paddock, and she wasn’t worried. Once we got onto the track, she took a couple of deep breaths, and the pony girl talked to her the whole way. Her mindset changed, and she relaxed. By the time she got to the gate, she was as cool as a cucumber.”

Vekomamona broke well, and Perez guided her to the inside to track the pace from a loose pocket, while Menina Bonita set a 22.93 opening fraction.

Loop D Loop was the first to confront the pacesetter, and they raced the opening half in 47.28 seconds. Perez eased Vekomamona out to split foes entering the turn, and the filly followed Loop D Loop’s live cover.

Vekomamona swung around Loop D Loop, took the lead in the upper stretch, and held off Feroza’s late surge to win by 1 ½ lengths in 1:27.27. Feroza, far back early, ran on well for second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Curlene’s Joker. Riva Red, Menina Bonita, Loop D Loop, Street Vendetta, Atlantic Pearl, Zelly, and Noble Vintage followed. Unpause scratched.

Vekomamona returned $17 as the fifth choice.

Perez credited Vekomamona’s exercise rider for the filly’s improvement. “Every time the track is like this, he tells me she just glides over it. She’s a steady, grinding type of filly. When she broke well and settled behind the dirt, and I got her in the clear at the quarter pole, she kept going and going and going.”

Bred in Kentucky by Nicholas Lotz, Vekomamona is by Vekoma out of Margaree Harbour (by Flat Out). She sold for $40,000 as a yearling and was purchased for $55,000 this May by Mens Grille.

Vekomamona was green in her debut at Laurel on September 19, breaking awkwardly and passing tired horses despite not changing leads. She finished fifth on October 10, improving her Beyer Speed Figure by eight points.

Vekomamona has earned $31,020.

“Third time was the charm,” Perez said.

*Around the track:

Trainer Danny Eubanks saddled two winners on Friday’s card. Maxie’s Munny ($5.80) tracked from the pocket under Julio Hernandez before angling three wide to win the third race. Java Prince ($5.80) was a speedy winner of the seventh race under Jevian Toledo.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Saturday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Plentyof Rogue Graduates for Nixon first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

“When we had all the snow and ice, he hurt himself, so we put a lot of time and effort into rehabbing him because [trainer] Milan [Milosevic] said this is a special horse,” said breeder-owner Richie Blue Jr.

Big Bolton has familial ties, both equine and human, to the Blue crew.

Blue bred Big Bolton’s dam, Hot Friesia, and named the 3-year-old after his grandson.

“The mare is a big mare, and she produces big foals,” Blue said. “My mother’s maiden name was Bolton. One of my daughters named my grandson Bolton. I said we’re going to call [him] Big Bolton because he’s a big kid. His father played football at Yale. He’s 2 years old and looks like a 4-year-old.”

Big Bolton made a strong debut last year, winning a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on good turf by 2 1/4 lengths on November 8.

“As soon as he started breezing, it was as if he were a little different and bred for the turf,” Milosevic said. “We tried to get one maiden win last year. At the end of the year, we did.”

After turf season ended last year, Big Bolton tried twice on the dirt but couldn’t replicate his grass success.

“I’m not trying dirt again,” Blue said.

Big Bolton returned to the races in September, finishing sixth after a poor start. He improved three weeks later, running a close third after setting the pace.

“He drew the one [post] both times, and the last time he had to work hard to get to the front, and then got tired at the end,” Milosevic said.

On Sunday, Big Bolton and jockey Jorge Ruiz settled just off the favored Biscuitwiththeboss, a filly facing males for trainer Brittany Russell. The fractions of 23.05 and 45.48 were solid on a course that seemed to favor speed types all week long.

Ruiz briefly glanced back inside the quarter pole, then shook the reins at Big Bolton, who responded by dispatching Biscuitwiththeboss. From there, Big Bolton did the rest, driving under the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Chimney Sweep.

Reggie Runs Rogue, who returned from a 477-day layoff as a new gelding for his turf debut, stayed on to finish third, a nose behind the runner-up. Enduring Gold, Watch Out World, and the multiple stakes-placed Biscuitwiththeboss completed the order.

Big Bolton returned $6.60 as the second choice in the betting. Rye Diggitydog and Brightshininglight scratched out.

“He did it as he did in his first start,” Milosevic noted. “He’s not a headstrong horse. He likes company, too. In the mornings, he’s never going to blow them away. He’ll just cruise alongside the horses. He likes to be with them. When he was younger, he was a little spooky. That’s why he wears blinkers. He would look at things.”

Blue and Milosevic are looking forward to Big Bolton’s 4-year-old campaign, noting that he’s Virginia-certified and eligible for lucrative restricted races at Colonial Downs and for important local stakes, including next year’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint.

Big Bolton has won two of six starts and earned $72,250.

*Around the track:

Jockey Jaime Rodriguez rode two winners on Sunday’s card. Rodriguez rode in the pocket in the day’s opener aboard Cara’s Dreamweaver ($4) for trainer Jamie Ness, then used similar tactics aboard Let’s Be Frank ($3.80) in the third. Rodriguez is now one win behind Mychel Sanchez in the meet’s jockey standings.

Majorca ($5.20) ran the fastest seven furlongs of the meet in today’s fourth race, a ratings-optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Danny Eubanks and ridden by Angel Cruz, Majorca wired the field from the rail post position and clocked 1:22.86 on the fast track.

Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Friday’s is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Big Bolton Runs Huge in Sunday Co-Feature first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

Musashi, a first-time starter trained by Hugh McMahon, opened at 1-2. As the late, great racing personality Harvey Pack would say, Musashi was apparently the “fastest horse in the world.”

Musashi drifted to 2-1 at post time, still the favorite in a field of twelve promising youngsters. He ran like he was 1-2, showing sharp early speed under jockey Charlie Marquez, setting fractions of 22.50 and 46.01, then cruising home with mere hands-and-heels urging to prevail by eight lengths in 1:12.02 on the fast track.

Side Hug finished second, two lengths ahead of Replicate. Sunday Legacy, Tony Stark, Midnight Mosey, Diminuto Burrito, Emperor Ming, Bourbonontheporch, Foolish Lover, Uptomom, and Golden Gavin followed.

Musashi paid $6.80 to win.

McMahon credited Marquez, who leaves next week for a winter riding stint at Tampa Bay Downs.

“I told Charlie we need to be in a forward position because there’s a lot of activity there, and you might have to work for it. He did a good job warming him up and getting him ready for a good break.”

Musashi, a homebred owned by SAB Stable, is by Great Notion, Maryland’s perennial leading active sire before he was pensioned late last year, and out of Samurai Steph (by Lea). Great Notion has won with 13 of his last 45 debut runners, a 29% strike rate.

His second dam, Sassy’s Dream (by Flower Alley), was stakes-placed on turf.

McMahon has won with 4 of his last 11 juvenile debut runners (36%).

“He was very awkward at the beginning because he had a growth spurt,” he said of Musashi. “His back end was really high, and his front end was really inferior, and he had a lot of growing up to do. My owner’s really patient, so we just took our time with him. The last couple of months, he started blossoming.”

McMahon likes to give his horses long, steady breezes rather than short, fast workouts. Musashi worked five times at five furlongs before tuning up for Saturday’s race with a one-mile breeze in 1:45 on October 23.

“[The mile works] are kind on them,” McMahon said when asked last year about that specific training regimen. “I like to go two turns because they go to their left lead around the turn, then to their right lead. They’re doing that throughout. We go 14 [seconds] to the pole, and then in the last three-eighths we split them into a breeze and try to do 12’s at the end and get some wind in their lungs.”

McMahon was very impressed with Musashi’s demeanor.

“In the paddock today, he was really composed, just like he’s been doing this his entire life,” McMahon said. “When you go to work on him, he’ll be a bit strange in the stall. But, other than that, he’s got a good mind.”

*Around the track:

Jockey Forest Boyce rode two turf winners on the card. She nursed Bushido ($5.80) on the lead in the third race and had just enough to fend off rail-skimming Forest Glow for trainer Lacey Gaudet. Boyce then worked out an inside-out closer’s trip aboard Synergism ($7.20) in the seventh race.

Trainer Jamie Ness saddled two winners. He struck in the opener with favored Mischievous Twins ($3.60), ridden by jockey Mychel Sanchez, then teamed up with jockey Martin Chuan for Law School ($6.20) in the eighth race.

Jockey Carlos Lopez swept the late daily double. Mongolian Apple ($13.80) wired the field in the ninth race for trainer Renaldo Richards, while Igaming ($3.40) rallied from off the pace for trainer Brittany Russell.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:05 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. The Sunday guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Musashi Impresses in Career Debut first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.