Among Five Stakes Worth $450,000 in Purses Saturday, March 16

LAUREL, MD – Runnymede Racing’s Alwaysmining, a winner of three consecutive stakes and four straight races overall, leads 24 horses nominated to the $100,000 Private Terms for 3-year-olds Saturday, March 16 at Laurel Park.

The 30th running of the Private Terms, contested at about 1 1/16 miles, is among five stakes worth $450,000 in purses that attracted a total of 102 nominations. It is joined by the $100,000 Beyond the Wire for 3-year-old fillies and three races for 4-year-olds and up – the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson at 1 1/8 miles and the $75,000 Not For Love and $75,000 Conniver, both for Maryland-bred/sired horses.

Named for the horse that won 12 of 17 starts, nine stakes, five of them in Maryland including the 1988 Federico Tesio (G3), the Private Terms is the second of Laurel’s three races for sophomores, preceded by the one-mile Miracle Wood Feb. 16 and followed by the $125,000 Federico Tesio at 1 1/8 miles April 20 – a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 144th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.

Alwaysmining, trained by Kelly Rubley, has put together his win streak in front-running fashion, the most recent a dominant 4 ½-length triumph in the Miracle Wood in his 3-year-old debut. Five-for-10 lifetime, all five wins coming in seven tries at Laurel, the Stay Thirsty gelding won the Maryland Juvenile Futurity and Heft Stakes, both at seven furlongs, to cap his 2-year-old campaign.

Other horses nominated to the Private Terms include Rubley-trained stablemate Red Gum, a winner of two straight; Clench, third in the Heft; three-time California-bred stakes winner Galilean and Gunmetal Gray, winner of the Sham (G3) Jan. 5, both trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer; Jimmy Winkfield Stakes runner-up Joevia; Tybalt, third in the Miracle Wood; and recent maiden winners Dixie Drawl, Frank’sgunisloaded, Grumps Little Tots, Makes Mo Cents and Spun to Run.

Las Setas, a 5 ½-length winner of the seven-furlong Wide Country Stakes Feb. 16 at Laurel, and Wide Country runner-up Our Super Freak are prominent among 25 horses nominated to the one-mile Beyond the Wire. Las Setas has won two straight including her stakes debut, while Our Super Freak also placed in both the Smart Halo and Gin Talking to cap her 2-year-old season.

Defending champion Something Awesome, Stronach Stable’s multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire homebred, is among 25 horses nominated to the Harrison Johnson, along with stakes-winning stablemate Unbridled Juan. Feb. 16 at Laurel, Something Awesome was 10th after a troubled start in the General George (G3), a race he won last year, while Unbridled Juan was third by a half-length in the John B. Campbell.

Campbell winner and runner-up, Bonus Points and Monongahela, are also nominated to the Harrison Johnson, along with 2017 Nashua (G2) winner Avery Island, unraced since winning the 2018 Withers (G3) last February; 2018 Jennings winner Cordmaker; 2019 Native Dancer winner General Downs; Twisted Tom, whose five stakes wins include the 2017 Private Terms and Tesio; and multiple stakes winners John Jones and Marengo Road.

John Jones is also among 17 nominees to the Not For Love, along with multiple graded-stakes placed Laki and fellow stakes winners Lewisfield, the defending champion; Saratoga Bob, Whirlin Curlin and Grade 2 winner Still Having Fun, seventh as the favorite in the seven-furlong General George in his 4-year-old debut.

The Conniver attracted 18 nominations led by 2018 winner Anna’s Bandit; Enchanted Ghost, winner of the Maryland Racing Media Stakes Feb. 18 at Laurel; 2018 Politely Stakes winner Elevated Vision; and multiple stakes winner Limited View.

Laurel Park’s 48-day winter meet, which began Jan. 1, runs through Sunday, March 31.