LAUREL, MD. 11-21-13---Eleven years ago, Ryan Fogelsonger used a dominating fall meet at Laurel Park to earn the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice rider. Victor Carrasco is looking to strike lightning in a bottle by rallying for same award.

The 21-year-old rodethree winners for the second consecutive day. On Thursday’s card, he scored aboard Sheriff Silverstar ($2.80-race 2), Time of the Sword ($6.80-race 3) and Lunar Rock ($13.40-race 4).

Carrasco ranks second in North America among bug riders with 178 victories, just one behind south Florida-based Edgard Zayas and is a good bet to be one of the three finalists for the Eclipse Award. After arriving in Maryland from Florida in April, he tied for second in the Pimlico standings and then finished as the runner-up at the Delaware Park meet.

“Like I said yesterday, I am working hard for the Eclipse and trying to improve each day. I am getting a lot of help from a bunch of the riders in the room. Luis Garcia, Kendrick Carmouche, Carlos Marquez and Julian Pimentel are watching the replays with me and telling me what I am doing wrong,” Carrasco said. “I went to the same riding school as Edgard. We have talked on Facebook or Twitter but not recently.”

NAME                       MOUNTS           WINS-SECOND-THIRD                    EARNINGS
Edgard Zayas                    913                       179-120-130                                     $3,410,079
Victor Carrasco                 910                       178-135-143                                     $3,476,605

Carrasco has 35 victories in the current fall meet, sixmore than fellow apprentice Trevor McCarthy.
 

HOLIDAY WEEK INCLUDES THANKSGIVING DAY CARD, GUYS DAY OUT PROMOTION

Thanksgiving traditions: turkey dinner, NFL games and thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park. The central Maryland track offers a special 11:05 a.m. post time next Thursday with a nine-race card.

The day also features the 26th annual pie giveaway (pumpkin or apple) after the fifth race at both Laurel and its sister track, Pimlico Race Course. Free donuts with coffee or cider will also be available from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Laurel’s terrace dining room will feature a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving buffet for $22.95.

Friday features free admission to Laurel Park’s live program for all men as part of the “Guys Day Out” promotion, which includes $2 Natty Boh draft beers and concession specials. Fans will have an opportunity to win 12 prizes, including Turfside Terrace tickets to the 139th Preakness Stakes on May 17, 2014 and tickets to upcoming Baltimore Ravens and Washington Capitals games.

There will also be live racing cards on Wednesday and Saturday. First post on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday is 12:35 p.m.
 

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.