Following Heat Cancellations, Live Racing Returns Thursday, July 25

LAUREL, MD – Rick Kanter’s Doc Boy, a promising juvenile son of Grade 1 winner Into Mischief, graduated with a popular five-length triumph Friday at Laurel Park in his second career start and first on the turf.

Ridden by Feargal Lynch for trainer Mike Stidham, Doc Boy ($2.40) went one mile over a firm Kelso turf course in 1:37.06 in the $40,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Rarely was a distant second, with Lady Magnolia and apprentice Victor Rosales third.

‘He’s a very nice horse, and did everything really nice,” Lynch said. “There wasn’t much pace. Victor’s horse in front looked very green, so I let my horse just get on with it. He was the best horse in the race.”

Sent off at 1-5, Doc Boy was unable to find room between Lady Magnolia on the rail and 15-1 long shot Heart Hero to the outside a few strides out of the gate but dropped back and settled nicely in third as Lady Magnolia went the opening quarter-mile in 23.98 seconds.

The two leaders drifted off the rail down the backstretch, allowing Doc Boy to cruise unopposed to the lead on the inside after a half-mile in 48.88. Doc Boy was firmly in command around the turn and opened up once straightened for home and set down by Lynch as they drove to the wire.

Doc Boy, out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Peggy May, fetched $325,000 at last September’s Keeneland yearling sale. He debuted June 21 at Belmont Park in a five-furlong maiden special weight that was rained off the turf to a sloppy main track, where he finished fourth. He had one subsequent work since on July 14 at Monmouth Park, where the Fair Hill Training Center-based Stidham keeps a summer string.

“Mr. Stidham found a great spot for him just to get his head in front, and hopefully it’s on to bigger and better things,” Lynch said. “He loved the distance; the further the better. The horse loves the turf; he’s bred in the purple for the turf. This is a nice horse. This is a horse to follow.”

Lael Stable’s homebred Gardenista ($4.40), favored at 6-5 but blocked in traffic at the top of the stretch, split horses midway through the lane and spurted away to a three-length victory in Race 8, a $42,000 entry-level allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up.

Stuck on the rail racing seventh through a half-mile that went in 46.94 seconds, Gardenista and jockey Carol Cedeno were still surrounded by horses after rounding the far turn but found room four wide inside the eighth pole and drew off convincingly. The winning time was 1:35.54 over the Kelso layout.

Notes: Jockey Feargal Lynch, who was aboard impressive maiden winner Doc Boy ($2.40) in Race 2, added a second winner with Decorating ($3) in Race 6 … With both the Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21 cards canceled due to forecasts of excessive heat, there will be a carryover jackpot of $3,494.43 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 when live racing returns to Laurel Park Thursday, July 25. Multiple tickets with all six winners Friday returned $830.30.