Sea Dancer Springs 16-1 Upset in $100,000 Carousel
Celtic Contender Digs in to Win $75,000 Bender Memorial
Spencerian Becomes Stakes Winner in $75,000 Politely

LAUREL, MD – Ronald Stewart’s Grade 2-placed New York shipper Film Star battled the length of the stretch with local stakes winner Speedyness before getting his head down on the wire for a thrilling victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Manfuso for 3-year-olds and up was the last of four stakes on a Christmastide Day program following the $100,000 Carousel for fillies and mares 3 and older and the $75,000 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial and Politely for Maryland-bred/sired horses.

Film Star ($7.60), trained by Linda Rice, covered the distance in 1:45.17 over a fast main track to snap a two-race losing streak since becoming stakes winner in an off-the-turf edition of the Aug. 3 Lure at Saratoga.

With jockey Jose Lezcano aboard for the third time and first since two straight mounts last fall, both in Grade 2 company, Film Star settled in second racing two wide as Speedyness went a quarter-mile in 23.62 seconds and a half in 47.78. The two remained inseparable approaching the stretch after going six furlongs in 1:12.83 to set up an epic stretch duel that wasn’t decided until the final jump.

Hittheroadjak finished third, two lengths ahead of multiple stakes winner and 6-5 favorite Copper Tax, who had won each of his four previous starts. They were followed by Cataleya Strike, Wild Vine and Lieutenant Brown.

Sea Dancer Springs 16-1 Upset in $100,000 Carousel

SF Racing’s Sea Dancer, making her main track debut in the first start for new connections, emerged from a tight pack at the top of the stretch to reel in front-running Miss New York near the eighth pole and spring a 16-1 upset of the $100,000 Carousel.

Sea Dancer ($34.20) completed a Saturday hat trick for Brittany and Sheldon Russell. The husband-and-wife, trainer-jockey combination also teamed up to win Race 1 with 2-year-old Holy Boss gelding Balance of Power ($5) and Race 6 with Oncourtcommentator ($11.60), a 3-year-old daughter of recently deceased Uncle Mo.

Sheldon Russell and Sea Dancer trailed all but two horses in a field of nine as multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty and 50-1 long shot Call Another Play dueled through fractions of 24.30 and 48.05 seconds. Sea Dancer weaved through traffic to move into fifth midway around the far turn, budged past Saddle Up Jessie straightening for home and came with a steady run to catch Miss New York and win by two lengths in 1:53.27.

Miss New York, racing for the first time since a victory in Laurel’s Sept. 22 Twixt, had a two-race win streak snapped finishing second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Evidencias. Malibu Beauty, Regaled, Too Many Kisses, Saddle Up Jessie, Call Another Play and 2-1 favorite Movie Moxie completed the order of finish.

Sea Dancer had two wins and two seconds racing exclusively on turf primarily in California for trainer Tim Yakteen. She broke her maiden Jan. 24 and had made five previous stakes starts, four in graded company.

Celtic Contender Digs in to Win $75,000 Bender Memorial

Lewis Family Racing Stable’s Celtic Contender responded when roused in mid-stretch and drew off to register a popular 1 ½-length victory in the $75,000 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial.

Ridden by Victor Carrasco for trainer Hamilton Smith, Celtic Contender ($4.40) covered the distance in 1:24.48 over a fast main track for his third win over the last four starts and second in a stakes following the Oct. 19 Maryland Million Sprint.

Celtic Contender raced between 30-1 long shot Freeze the Fire on the rail and multiple stakes winner Seven’s Eleven to his outside through an opening quarter-mile of 23.26 seconds. The top two remained unchanged after a half in 46.62 when Circle P ranged up on the outside to engage the new leader, but Celtic Contender was able to put away a stubborn Circle P inside the eighth pole and edge clear.

Circle P held second followed by Witty, Brilliant Ice, Freeze the Fire, Seven’s Eleven and Play Like a Raven.

Spencerian Becomes Stakes Winner in $75,000 Politely

Larry Rabold’s 4-year-old filly Spencerian powered through an opening along the inside at the top of the stretch to put away stakes-winning pacesetter Talk to the Judge and take the $75,000 Politely by two lengths.

It was the first stakes win for Spencerian ($8.80), third in the Maryland Million Distaff two starts back, and completed a sweep of the day’s Maryland-bred/sired stakes for jockey Victor Carrasco.

Talk to the Judge, sent off at 23-1, jumped out to an early lead going the first quarter in 22.94 seconds pressed by Royal Whisper as Carrasco and Spencerian settled in third. Talk to the Judge clung to a short lead at the top of the stretch before Spencerian came alive under Carrasco’s urging, surged to the lead and kept going.

Bella Bettina and 5-2 favorite Bourbon Bon Bay closed to be second and third, respectively, with Royal Whisper, Talk to the Judge, Sheilahs Warcloud, Pudd’n N Pie and Summer Odds completing the order of finish.