Trainer Bobby Leaf III earns first victory
Quint’s Brew possible for Maryland Million Sprint
Three winners for jockey Jaime Rodriguez
LAUREL, MD—Where’s Ray was the last starter for trainer Tim Salzman, who passed away on February 7 at age 54 after a long battle with cancer.
“I’m so grateful for this horse,” said his widow, Megan Salzman, after Where’s Ray was placed first via disqualification in a second-level allowance at Laurel Park on April 12. “This was one of the last ones he picked out, and he loved this horse. He always had so much faith in this horse.”
Megan Salzman soon kept the family tradition alive by obtaining her trainer’s license, and Where’s Ray became her first winner, getting his nose down right on the wire in Sunday’s sixth race, a Ratings-Optional Claimer for 3-year-olds and upward at 5 ½ furlongs over the Fort Marcy Turf Course.
It was Megan Salzman’s ninth career start after she took over Where’s Ray’s training from her brother-in-law, John Salzman Jr.
“I wish so much I could be there. It’s my niece’s wedding,” Megan Salzman said by phone after Where’s Ray’s dramatic victory. “It’s Timmy and my anniversary today. For my first win to come like this, it’s just unreal. [Where’s Ray] is so, so special. What a game horse!”
In Megan’s absence, John Salzman Jr. once again saddled Where’s Ray. “He lost a front shoe, too,” Salzman Jr. marveled as he watched the replay on the infield tote board.
Tim Salzman began his training career in 2003, winning with his only starter that year. Over his career, he secured 425 wins and earned a total of $10,259,438.
Among his best runners were Bsharpsonata, a multiple Grade 2 winner, and Sensible Lady, a six-time stakes winner. Sensible Lady is honored annually at Laurel Park through the Sensible Lady Turf Dash Stakes. Gift of Gab captured the 2026 edition of the Sensible Lady Turf Dash, held yesterday afternoon.
Where’s Ray is a 6-year-old gelding by Mshawish, out of Edgehill Road by Old Forester. Bred in Kentucky by Susan Moulton, Where’s Ray was purchased for $10,000 as a short yearling. He’s won 8 of 29 races and earned $254,250.
*Trainer Bobby Leaf III earns first victory
Perseverance paid off for trainer Bobby Leaf III in Sunday’s second race at Laurel Park, when the 32-year-old saddled his first winner after 25 previous attempts.
“I tried to get my trainer’s license three years ago, but I failed,” Leaf said in the winner’s circle after Fan Club’s stalk-and-pounce victory with jockey Warren Ebow III.
Leaf said he procrastinated on the application process, but he passed the exam in March.
“I’m a farrier,” said Leaf. “That’s what I do as a full-time job, but I’ve always loved horses, and it snowballed into some clients and some people sending me some horses, and now I’m just taking it a little more seriously.”
Leaf’s father, Robert Leaf Jr., is also a trainer in Maryland. “Me and my dad are a team. He was [Fan Club’s] trainer until March, and now I’m the trainer.”
In addition to the 13 horses he has in training, Leaf also owns mares, yearlings, re-homed horses, and retired horses on his farm. “This win really helps take care of all of them. Fan Club is taking care of the whole barn,” Leaf exclaimed.
Fan Club is an 8-year-old gelding by Street Sense, out of Secret Return by Put It Back. Leaf claimed him for $12,500 after a runner-up effort at Laurel on February 28.
“When I claimed him, I didn’t even know he was 8 years old,” Leaf admitted. “I just saw how much heart he had, and he tried every time. I didn’t really care about the rest of the information about him. And I liked that he was by Street Sense. I like going by good sires.”
Fan Club finished second in his first start for Leaf, then sixth of eight in a $20,000 claimer on turf on April 25. After a freshening, the bay just missed in an $8,000 at Timonium on August 29.
“I gave him some time off because he had some wear and tear,” Leaf said about the layoff. “He had four months on the farm, and he spruced right back up. He’s been perfect. I love him.”
Leaf had immense confidence in Fan Club this afternoon. “I knew [he] was gonna pull it off for us and give me my first win because he’s all heart.”
Fan Club, a $325,000 yearling purchase in 2019, has won 8 of 40 starts for $326,464. He was claimed for $7,500 by trainer Mike Geralis, but Leaf said he’ll continue to keep an eye on his first winner.
*Quint’s Brew possible for Maryland Million Sprint
Trainer Ned Allard provided an update on multiple stakes-winner Quint’s Brew, who was scratched from Friday’s New Castle Handicap at Delaware.
“The day before his race, when we came into the barn that morning, he was hiding in the back of his stall,” Allard said after saddling Alogon to win Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Dash. “He’s a very animated horse. The vet was there five minutes after that. We brought him out, put the foot testers on him, and he had a tremendous amount of pulse on the outside heel. He was really lame.”
Allard felt like Quint’s Brew dodged a bullet.
“The blacksmith came in and took off a quarter of the outside, and it exploded,” he explained. “He had a pus pocket that just popped right out. [Friday], he walked sound enough to run, but was still a little off at the jog. [Saturday], he’s perfect, so I think maybe the Maryland Million for his next start.”
Bred in Maryland by Paul Berube, Karen Linnell, and Spinnaker Hill Farm, Quint’s Brew, a 5-year-old gelding by Mosler, is owned by Berube, Linnell, and Heather Hunter.
Quint’s Brew won four of his first five starts, including the Jennings Stakes and the General George Stakes at Laurel Park. He then placed in two graded stakes in New York before closing out his 2025 campaign with a second-place finish in Laurel’s restricted Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes.
Quint’s Brew successfully defended his Jennings title in his first start of the year and added three more stakes wins during the spring. He finished second in his most recent start, Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector Stakes on July 17.
Quint’s Brew has won 8 of 15 starts and has $326,460 in career earnings.
“He’s been [healthy] all year,” Allard said. “Surprisingly so. Sooner or later, you know there’s going to be a bump in the road, and it looks like this is one he can get over right away.”
*Around the track:
Trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Jaime Rodriguez teamed up to win two races. Reckless ($4) won with a pace-prompting trip in the third race, and Our Notion ($4.20) wired the field in the eighth.
Rodriguez notched his third win in the week’s final race. Kool Kay ($99.60) exploded from off the pace to pull off a huge upset for trainer Alisa Sarson.
Trainer Hugh McMahon also had a two-win Sunday, scoring with maiden-breakers Pippin the Warrior ($18.40) in the fifth race and with first-time starter Monster Mitch ($17.80) in the seventh. Mychel Sanchez was aboard Pippin the Warrior, and Tais Lyapustina rode Monster Mitch.
Live racing resumes Friday with ten races. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout rate. There is a $19,634 CARRYOVER into Friday’s late “Value Pick 5” (races 6-10). The first post time is 12:00 pm.
The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.
Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Relax with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas at our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch begins at 11:00 am ET. Learn more here.
Come out to Laurel Park on Sunday, September 20, for “Family Day at Laurel Park.” From 8 am to 10 am ET, enjoy the “Morning Workout Show.” Meet Laurel Park’s trainers and jockeys, take photos in the winner’s circle, watch morning workouts, enjoy a complimentary sausage biscuit and a pancake station for kids, and learn more about the daily life of a thoroughbred. Then, from 11 am to 5 pm, enjoy exciting live racing and events for fans of all ages. Watch pony races, featuring young riders from local pony clubs, and enjoy a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting, and more. Admission is free. Register today here.
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.