LAUREL, MD. 12-31-12---Under confident handling, Marc Ferrell’s Called to Serve waited behind the leaders, tipped to the outside and pounced, winning as his rider pleased in the $125,000 Broad Brush Stakes, the co-feature on New Year’s Eve at Laurel Park.

Joel Rosario was at the controls as the Nick Canani trainee covered the nine furlong distance in 1:50.75. Eighttofasttocatch, who has six stakes victories at Laurel Park, set the pace and was racing comfortably on the lead but could offer no resistance when Called to Serve ranged up to his outside.  He finished second,  5-3/4 lengths behind the leader and five lengths ahead of Hughes Next, who surged to beat Thunder Lord at the finish line to take third.

“This horse is doing real good right now,” Rosario said. “I just wanted to keep him out of trouble. He was doing it really easy. I passed the horse inside me really quick and got the job done. I think he is a nice horse. This is the third time I have ridden him and he has been better each time.”

Called to Serve, an Afleet Alex offspring who won the Discovery Handicap (G3) in his previous start, paid $3.

“He’s really only getting better. He’s really growing up and he’s learning how to be a real racehorse,” added Canani. “He is a very versatile horse and the longer they go the better he is. He is becoming a really nice horse.”

Canani said his star would run next in one of three graded races: the Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park , the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) or the Strub Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.