LAUREL, MD. 12-10-11---R. Larry Johnson’s Baltimore Belle ran by Love’s Blush in deep stretch to capture the $75,000 Geisha Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares, the Saturday feature at Laurel Park.

Now a three-time stakes winner in 2011 for trainer Mike Trombetta, Baltimore Belle carried Julian Pimentel to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:37.72 for the one mile distance. The 4-year-old filly won the Dahlia Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in April and took the Lady Baltimore Stakes on the Laurel turf course in her previous start.

“She likes to run,” said Tana Aubrey-Verge, Trombetta’s Laurel Park-based assistant. “She is so versatile. We can do a lot with her. I like to try her on the synthetic surface next year.”

Love’s Blush finished second with frontrunner Access To Charlie holding on to third. Baltimore Belle paid $8 as the second choice in the wagering.

“She’s really a nice filly,” said Pimentel, who has been aboard the daughter of Bowman’s Band seven times in nine starts this year. “I really see a lot of improvement. She was very eager and it was just a matter of finding a way out because I had a ton of horse the whole way around.”

The win was the 50^th of the Laurel Park fall meet for Pimentel, who is tied with Sheldon Russell atop the rider standings for the stand with one week remaining.

Jamie Ness leads Dane Kobiskie for the fall training title. Ness has 31 victories from 100 starters, while Kobiskie has won 29 times from 92 runners. Ness has entered runners in 10 of the 27 races on the December 13, 14 and 15 cards, while Kobiskie counters with six chances.

For the year, Russell (121 wins) and Kobiskie (58 victories) have wrapped up the respective titles.

The fall meet ends Saturday, December 17. Live racing will take place next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. First post each afternoon is 12:35 p.m.

The December 13 card includes Rapid Redux’s quest to tie the modern United States record for wins in a season (19) in the sixth race, a $17,000 starter allowance. The 5-year-old gelding is a perfect 18-of-18 this year with victories at seven tracks, including four at Laurel. Trainer David Wells gave his star a three-furlong work this morning at Penn National (36.20 seconds) in preparation for the 1- 1/16 mile test. Post time for the race will be just before 3 o’clock Eastern and will be broadcast live on HRTV and streamlined live on www.drf.com.