7F Sprint for 3YOs Co-Headlines Thanksgiving Saturday Card
$100,000 Safely Kept Nominees include G1 Winner Tamara
Rainbow 6 Solved Sunday for Jackpot Payout of $11,886
LAUREL, MD – Emilie Fojan homebred Brunacini, upset winner of the Perryville (G3) in his last start, and Maryland Million Sprint winner Celtic Contender are among 23 sophomores nominated to the $100,000 City of Laurel at Laurel Park.
The City of Laurel for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies, both sprinting seven furlongs, co-headline a nine-race Thanksgiving weekend program Saturday, Nov. 30.
Brunacini dueled through the stretch before sticking his neck out at the wire to win the seven-furlong Perryville at Keeneland, where trainer Matthew Sims is based. It was just the third start and first in stakes company for the chestnut son of Grade 1-winning millionaire Dortmund.
Lewis Family Racing Stable homebred Celtic Contender has put together back-to-back wins against restricted company, capped by his half-length Maryland Million triumph for Laurel-based trainer Hamilton Smith. The Irish War Cry colt also finished first in the June 29 Star de Naskra but was disqualified to third for interference, and was beaten a half-length when third in the July 28 Concern, both seven furlongs at Laurel.
Stonehedge homebred Sunny Breeze won the Concern by a head for trainer Ned Allard and most recently led all the way before getting caught at the wire to lose the six-furlong Gallant Bob (G2) to multiple stakes winner Bentornato by a neck Sept. 21 at Parx.
Resolute Racing’s Lucky Jeremy has won two stakes this year, most recently a front-running effort in the one-mile Caesars Handicap on the Horseshoe Indianapolis turf July 13, and was third in the Sunland Derby (G3). Mellon Patch, Inc.’s Patriot Spirit is also a multiple stakes winner including the April 21 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.
Stakes winners Circle P, Give It a Whirl, Regalo and Speedyness – the latter a comebacking winner Friday at Laurel – are also prominent among nominees.
The Safely Kept attracted 27 nominations including Spendthrift Farm homebred Tamara, winner of the 2023 Del Mar Debutante (G1) for trainer Richard Mandella that has returned from a year between starts to be second, beaten a nose, in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance Friday at Del Mar.
LNJ Foxwoods homebred Ellen Jay, favored in each of her five starts, has strung together three consecutive wins for trainer Brad Cox capped by the six-furlong Glen Cove Oct. 18 at Aqueduct. Likewise, Morgan’s Ford Farm homebred Binnie has won three in a row for Laurel’s fall meet-leading trainer and former Cox assistant Brittany Russell, who also nominated stakes winner Cap Classique and Repole Stable’s seven-length last out winner Overwish.
Stakes winners Carmelina, Kissedbyanangel, Miss Harriett, Ringy Dingy, Roanan Goddess and Tricky Temper; three-time stakes runner-up Sheilahs Warcloud; and Irish Maxima, a winner of three straight, are also nominated.
Notes: Fall meet-leading trainer Brittany Russell saddled a pair of winners Sunday, Luna Patina ($4.20) in Race 1 and Red Head Italian ($4.20) in Race 3, each by 9 ½ lengths as the even-money favorite … Jockey Angel Cruz doubled Sunday aboard Paco the Taco Man ($7.60) in Race 5 and Brother Brad ($18.40) in Race 7 … The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was hit by one lucky bettor Sunday for a jackpot payout of $11,886.60. The winning combination was 4-1-2-3-1-4 … There will be a carryover of $3,819.40 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) when live racing returns Friday, Nov. 22. First post is 12:25 p.m.