Caprice Gets Fifth Stakes Win in $100,000 Gin Talking
LAUREL, MD – Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ One Man Team, making just his second career start, took an early lead he never relinquished and powered home an impressive front-running winner of Saturday’s $100,000 Heft at Laurel Park.
The Heft for 2-year-olds and $100,000 Gin Talking for 2-year-old fillies, both sprinting seven furlongs, co-headlined the final Saturday program of Laurel’s calendar year-ending fall stand, which began Sept. 1 and closes Sunday.
One Man Team ($7.40), a $285,000 son of Nyquist and grandson of fellow champion Uncle Mo and Grade 1 winner Harlan’s Holiday, gave the husband-and-wife team of jockey Sheldon Russell and trainer Brittany Russell its third win on the card. The winning time was 1:25.22 over a sloppy main track.
Sheldon Russell hustled One Man Team from Post 2 in a field scratched down to seven horses, going the opening quarter-mile in 23.22 seconds with Saxton just off his right hip and 25-1 longshot Shootersgottashoot tracking in third three wide. One Man Team maintained the lead after a half in 47.18 as Saxton dropped back and stakes winner Sacred Thunder, the 7-5 favorite, took up the chase.
One Man Team opened up once straightened for home and went on to win by 4 ¼ lengths, while Sacred Thunder held off a late inside bid from Barbadian Runner by a neck for second. Saxton, Yara’s Quest, Shootersgottashoot and Blanches Mule completed the order of finish. Fire Pit, Baby Dukes and Crab Daddy were scratched.
Purchased as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2023, One Man Team did not make his debut until Oct. 31 when he led all the way in a six-length maiden special weight romp sprinting six furlongs at Laurel.
Having debuted as the Marylander in 1975, the Heft was renamed in 2016 to honor Maryland native and longtime horse owner Arnold Heft who campaigned such horses as millionaire Eighttofasttocatch, a three-time Maryland Million Classic winner, and fellow multiple stakes winners Red’s Round Table, Pulverizing and Baldski’s Choice. He passed away in 2014 at age 94.
Caprice Gets Fifth Stakes Win in $100,000 Gin Talking
Runnymoore Racing homebred Caprice survived a duel from both sides into the far turn and held off a late run from My Charm in the stretch to extend her win streak to three races with a fifth stakes victory this year in the $100,000 Gin Talking for 2-year-old fillies.
Caprice ($2.40), bred in Pennsylvania by Greg and Caroline Bentley, completed seven furlongs in 1:27.88 over a sloppy main track with regular rider Jaime Rodriguez up, improving her record to six wins and one second from seven starts.
Atlantis Queen broke running from her rail post and led after a quarter-mile in 22.78 seconds as Caprice raced in second between horses with Not Too Late to her outside and My Charm a distant fourth. Not Too Late inherited the top spot leaving the far turn as Atlantis Queen faded back with Caprice dropping down inside drawing clear to win by 1 ¾ lengths.
My Charm made a determined run to get second, 4 ½ lengths ahead of Not Too Late, followed by Atlantis Queen and A Shawtown Girl. Beyond Belief was scratched.
Caprice, by Golden Lad, won the Blue Hen and Small Wonder this summer and fall at Delaware Park and prior to the Gin Talking won the Nov. 9 Smart Halo and Dec. 2 Maryland Juvenile Filly at Laurel.
Gin Talking was named Maryland’s 2-year-old filly champion in 1999 after a perfect 4-0 season that included three stakes wins. She won three more stakes in 2000 including the Anne Arundel (G3) to earn both champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year honors. She was retired after two starts in 2001 to become a broodmare; her first foal, Dixie Talking, won the 2005 Cicada (G3) and was the dam of 2013 Illinois Derby (G3) winner Done Talking.
