LAUREL, MD. 10-27-12---Prince Farm LLC’s Dannhauser benefitted from a ground-saving ride by Laurel’s leading rider, Sheldon Russell, and held off a slew of closers to prevail by a neck in the $150,000 Laurel Turf Cup.

Always to the inside and within range, the 4-year-old colt surged to command inside the field leaving the eighth pole, opened a clear advantage soon after that and was extended to best See Tobe and Manchurian High.

“I’m so used to this horse coming 20 lengths off the pace but for some reason he broke right into the race today,” Russell said. “The distance was not a problem. The rail opened up and he got right in there. When you’re stuck down inside, you have to be patient and wait. At the quarter pole, it opened and he was very eager to go on.”

Overlooked by the bettors and sent off at 22-1 odds, the son of Johannesburg returned $46.20 straight and led a $338.40 exacta and $6,185.80 trifecta. He finished the 1 ½ miles in 2:27.17.

“He’s a wonderful horse, just marvelous to train,” winning trainer Kathleen O’Connell said. “We were hoping that Sheldon could get him settled in behind early and he rode him just perfect. This horse really can’t go much shorter than 1 1/8 miles and they just don’t write many races for horses that want to run longer. But for now, he’s a long-distance specialist.”

The winner is now 4-for-8 on the turf and has won three of his last five grass starts.

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.