Apprentice Jockey Urizar Velazquez Earns First Career Victory
Apprentice Jockey Urizar Velazquez Earns First Career Victory
Broken Bridle Forges Narrow Win in Laurel Thursday Feature
Rainbow 6, Late Pick 5, Super Hi-5 Carryovers Friday
LAUREL, MD – Brian McFarlane’s 3-year-old gelding Free to Trump was a gate-to-wire winner of Thursday’s fourth race to give apprentice jockey Urizar Velazquez his first career winner in his professional debut.
Free to Trump ($11) broke from Post 5 in the field of seven and set fractions of 23.13, 46.48 and 58.48 seconds, completing 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.77 over a fast main track to take the $18,000 maiden claiming event for 3-year-olds and up by 2 ¼ lengths.
It was the first win from 16 career starts for Free to Trump, a son of Freedom Child based at Laurel with trainer Brandon McFarlane.
Velazquez, who turned 26 July 22, who rides with a 10-pound weight allowance, is a native of Chiapas, Mexico. He said he initially intended to start his riding career in South Florida but was sidelined by injury.
“I started riding at Gulfstream [Park] and then I stopped for two years because I got hurt,” he said. “This is my first race back, and I’m glad to be here. I’m so happy. I’m blessed. I hope to get many more winners like this.”
Broken Bridle Forges Narrow Win in Laurel Thursday Feature
Back in allowance company after three straight tries against graded-stakes competition, 5-year-old mare Broken Bridle raced on an uncontested lead early and was able to fend off a trio of challengers through the stretch to emerge from a four-way photo finish with a neck victory in Thursday’s feature race at Laurel Park.
Co-owned by trainer Gary Capuano and Paul Fowler Jr. and ridden by Alex Cintron, Broken Bridle ($15.20) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.08 over a firm Fort Marcy turf course in the $47,000 third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up.
Cintron and Broken Bridle broke sharply and held a 1 ½-length lead after going the opening quarter-mile in 24.92 seconds. They extended their advantage to two lengths following a half in 49.81 and three lengths through six furlongs in 1:13.96, with Indian Paint tracking along the rail and stakes winner Armoire, the 7-5 favorite, kept in the clear three wide.
Broken Bridle straightened for home with a 1 ½-length advantage and was set down for the drive by Cintron as Armoire, Indian Paint and late-running Quick Witted on the far outside ranged up to challenge and closed in on the wire together.
Multiple stakes winner Imply surged late to get second by a nose over Armoire, with Quick Witted another head back in fourth. Indian Paint and Arraign completed the order of finish.
The victory came nearly a year to the day from her previous win last Aug. 20, also over Laurel’s world-class turf course. A half-sister to 2017 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and Zenyatta (G1) winner Paradise Woods, she didn’t race again until finishing third in the Dahlia Stakes April 21, and then was off the board in the Beaugay (G3), Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) and Matchmaker (G3), the latter July 29 at Monmouth Park.
“It’s been a little while, but she ran well,” Capuano said. “We were trying to get some graded black type on her because she’ll be sold later this year as a broodmare or racing prospect and it would increase her value substantially. She’s a real nice filly. Her pedigree is really good so we’re just trying to improve that a little bit.
“We’re just keeping her healthy and happy and if she were to race for somebody next year, she’ll get better and better. She’s just starting to get into herself now,” he added. “We’re just keeping her healthy and we’ll see if we can get a stakes win out of her.”
Capuano said Broken Bridle will be offered at Fasig-Tipton’s November sale Sunday, Nov. 4 in Lexington, Ky.
“We’re thrilled to death,” Fowler said. “Gary does a great job and my hat’s off to them. She’s a nice filly. I was just lucky enough to buy her.”
Rainbow 6, Late Pick 5, Super Hi-5 Carryovers Friday
There will be carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, 50-cent Late Pick 5 and $1 Super Hi-5 wagers for Friday’s 10-race program. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
No one correctly selected all six winners in the Rainbow 6, growing the jackpot carryover to $12,162.07. Tickets with five of six winners were worth $759.10. Friday’s sequence will span Races 5-10.
The Late Pick 5, which offers an industry low 12 percent takeout, begins in Race 6 with a carryover of $5,393.94. Tickets with four of five winners returned $449.45.
Friday’s opener, a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint over the Fort Marcy turf course, will have a carryover of $1,578.67 in the Super Hi-5.
Notes: Jockey Edwin Gonzalez visited the winner’s circle twice Thursday aboard Puturseatbelton ($4) in the second race and Seeking the Sunset ($12.40) in the sixth. Ashley Castrenze also posted a riding double, with String Bean ($18.80) in the third and Matinee Babe ($24.40) in the 10th.
