LAUREL, MD. 02-09-13---Fitzhugh LLC’s Dynamic Strike rallied to win the $80,000 Miracle Wood Stakes, the feature offering on this sun lit afternoon at Laurel Park.

Ridden by Forrest Boyce and trained by Richard Small, the lightly raced son of Smart Strike stalked the pace before closing five wide down the stretch, just inside of Where’s Dominic, and battled that one to the 1/16^th pole before edging away to win by a length. Lunar Rock rallied furiously up the rail to take third. Post time favorite Vegas No Show was able to save ground early but could finish no closer than fifth.

In his two previous starts, Dynamic Strike had posted victories after battling for the lead. Now three for four lifetime, this is his first added money score.

“The race set up good,” said Boyce. “He’s been going to the lead and this was our chance to find out if he could do it another way. He dug in against that other horse and he did it pretty well.”

Dynamic Strike paid $7.80.

Small’s other starter in the Miracle Wood, Alpha Mike Foxtrot, fell in deep stretch and had to be humanely euthanized. His rider, Jozbin Santana, was not hurt.

CODDINGTON WINS FIRST RACE

Turning for home, a gaping hole opened in front of Go Money Go and apprentice Natasha Coddington. They took advantage of their luck and galloped right through, marking the first win for the 20-year old apprentice from Seattle, Washington.

Coddington said, “I’ve been race riding about two months. I’m just freelancing right now and hoping to do my best.”
 

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.