LAUREL, MD. 02-21-13---Moon Philly and Twice the Lady head a cast of eight fillies and mares in Saturday’s feature at Laurel Park, the nine furlong, $125,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes.

Moon Philly (8-5) won her first stakes in the Nellie Morse Stakes on January 26 at Laurel, earning a 91 Beyer speed figure. She’s won five times for trainer Mike Trombetta, three while in the hands of Jeremy Rose. Rose has teamed up with the daughter of Malibu Moon five times and has never been worse than second.

“She is getting better every race,” Rose said. “What I like about her is that she is so tactical. She has laid back, she has been on the lead. If the pace is slow we’ll be close, if it is speedy she’ll be fine as well. She is very nice to ride.”

Twice the Lady (9-5) entered the Tony Dutrow barn by way of the claim box in March and has won three races for her new connections including the Affectionately at Aqueduct in late January to earn a 90 Beyer. The Quiet American mare will be ridden by Sheldon Russell.

Last Saturday, Withgreatpleasure (9-2) rallied to finish third, after being shuffled back at the start, in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2). Last year the daughter of Hold That Tiger won the Unbridled Stakes at Delaware Park and finished second in five other added money races. Travis Dunkelberger will be back at the controls for trainer David Nunn.

Chris Grove has twice entered Touch the Birds (6-1) in stakes, earning a third place finish in last year’s Shine Again at Pimlico Race Course and a second in this year’s Nellie Morse behind Moon Philly. Forrest Boyce will be in the saddle for the third straight time.

“She should be on the lead like last time,” added Rose. “If someone is going to push her that will be the ideal set up for us.”

Access to Charlie (12-1) took third behind Moon Philly and Touch the Birds in the Nellie Morse. The daughter of Indian Charlie won the 2011 Twixt Stakes here and has six other top four finishes in nine career stakes starts. Julian Pimentel will ride.

Joyce’s Angel (20-1), Smart Cash (20-1) and Blessed Soul (30-1) round out the lineup.

Prior to the race, the Maryland Racing Media Association will honor Jazzy Idea as the 2012 Maryland-based Horse of the Year. Owned, trained and bred by Edwin Merryman, the daughter of Great Notion won five stakes races during her 3-year-old campaign, including an upset of Ben’s Cat in the Laurel Dash Stakes.
 

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.