Celebrate Father’s Day at Laurel Park Sunday with Stakes, Buffet

LAUREL, MD – Delayed by both weather and circumstance, Taking Risk Stable’s Cannon’s Roar is set to make his 8-year-old debut Sunday at Laurel Park chasing his first career stakes triumph in the $75,000 Find for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

It will be the first start for Cannon’s Roar since finishing fourth as the favorite, beaten half a length, in the Maryland Million Turf last October. Each of the top three finishers from that race – Somekindofmagician, Johng and Street Copper – are among the Find’s 11-horse field. Cannon’s Roar was also the beaten favorite in last year’s Find, five lengths behind winner Somekindofmagician.

Cannon’s Roar has had 10 timed works since late March for his return, the last five at five furlongs or longer. He has made his seasonal debut in early to mid-June in each of the last three years, all sprinting on the grass.

“It’s [been] a little difficult because we’ve entered him quite a few times, short and long, and none of the races went. One day he was in and they took it off the turf,” trainer Dale Capuano said. “Originally I thought he’d have to go long so I’ve been training him that way. He’s had a few six-furlong works and some long gallops, so we think he’s fit enough.”

Cannon’s Roar debuted in April 2017 for his owner-breeder Mrs. P. Frank Wright. Capuano claimed him for $16,000 out of a fifth-place finish Aug. 16, 2018, and he has put together a 4-6-5 record from 19 subsequent starts.

Overall, it will be the 35th lifetime race for Cannon’s Roar, who has earned $267,069 in purses over his career. He has gone winless in his last seven starts but placed five times in that span, four in stakes, including a second in the Sussex at Delaware Park and thirds in the West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup at Mountaineer and Laurel Dash last year.

“He’s so easy on himself,” Capuano said. “He’s 8, but he only races five or six times a year and gets the winters off. So he’s a young 8, as I would call it.”

Narrowly favored at 7-2 on the morning line, Cannon’s Roar drew the rail and will have Charlie Marquez aboard in the Find. Marquez has ridden the Orientate gelding six times previously with two wins, a second and thirds in the Laurel Dash and Speaker’s Cup. He was also up for last year’s Maryland Million Turf.

“If I can get the one post every time I’m going long, I’ll be tickled to death. So, I’m happy,” Capuano said. “I think he’s fit enough and he should be sharp enough, so if we get a good trip and things go well, I’m sure he’ll run his race.”

Celebrate Father’s Day at Laurel Park Sunday with Stakes, Buffet

Laurel Park will celebrate Father’s Day with a program of 10 live races Sunday featuring the first three stakes of the summer meet, as well as a buffet of food and spirits on Dad’s special day.

First race post time is 12:40 p.m.

All three stakes Sunday are scheduled for the grass. The action begins in Race 5 with the $75,000 Find for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles where Somekindofmagician returns to defend his title over Cannon’s Roar, the 7-2 top choice on the morning line and last year’s beaten favorite.

The headliner comes in Race 7, the $100,000 Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs. Stakes winner Derrynane is the horse to beat, having run fifth by two lengths in the May 28 Soaring Softly (G3) and fourth by a length against males in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).

Can the Queen, a two-time turf sprint stakes winner, will attempt to stretch her speed around two turns as she races beyond six furlongs for the first time in Race 9, the $75,000 All Brandy for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles. No Mo Lady, placed seven times including the 2020 Gallorette (G3), seeks her first stakes victory.

Laurel will serve up a special Father’s Day buffet along with whiskey flights and bourbon tastings, a welcome drink upon arrival and free live race program Sunday. The cost is $65 per person, which includes tax and service charge, and $25 for children 5-12. For more information, click here.

Notes: Jockey Grant Whitacre and trainer Mario Serey Jr. teamed up for a pair of winners Saturday, Harper’s Do ($10) in Race 3 and Swayin to and Fro ($6.20) in Race 7 … Gastown Babe ($37.60), a 3-year-old filly owned, trained and co-bred by Justin Nixon, caught front-running favorite Rambert in deep stretch and edged past to spring a 17-1 upset in Race 8, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares age 3, 4 and 5. The winning time was 1:03.80 for 5 ½ furlongs over a firm Exceller turf course … Mens Grille Racing’s Petition Prayer ($22.40), racing for the first time since early October, came rolling down the center of the track to fly past favored Royal Whisper and win Race 9, a 5 ½-furlong allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up, in 1:04.57 over a fast main track … Petition Prayer was the second win on the day for meet-leading rider Jeiron Barbosa, following Loaded Sniper ($6) in Race 5.