Hug a Tree Captures Saturday Feature at Laurel
Hug a Tree Captures Saturday Feature at Laurel
Jockey Gomez Wins Two, Taken to Hospital Following Spill
Rainbow 6 Carryover for Sunday’s Program
Maryland-Bred Champion Noteworthy Peach Faces Stakes Winner Mr Palmer in Sunday Feature
Brunch, Kids Zone Highlight Weekly Sunday Funday
LAUREL, MD – Flying Pheasant Farm LLC’s Hug a Tree caught front-running favorite Summer Frock in mid-stretch and pulled clear late for a half-length victory in Saturday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park.
Ridden by apprentice Kali Francois for trainer Joe Delozier III, Hug a Tree ($15.20) ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.81 over a firm Dahlia Turf Course for her second straight victory and third this year.
Breaking from the inside post in a field of 10, Hug a Tree tracked in third as Cowgirl Creed and Summer Frock dueled through an opening quarter-mile of 21.89 seconds and a half in 44.84. Summer Frock took command turning for home but was unable to hold off the late charge from Hug a Tree down the center of the course.
“It worked out perfectly for her because she’s a filly that loves to get nice and tucked in there. She thrives off of just sitting behind and really targeting a horse,” said Francois, aboard for all three 2016 wins. “As soon as she broke I had to catch her in my hands a little bit. Once she had that contact in her mouth, that’s her go signal and that’s when she really started to get going.”
Summer Frock and Xavier Perez were second, followed by Southern Peach, Town Tart, Cowgirl Creed, Smart N Smokin, So Royal, Aye d’Eclaire, Liatris and Ms Eileen.
A 5-year-old daughter of Forestry out of the Dehere mare Cuddle Her, Hug a Tree was the most experienced horse in the field making her 41st career start and eighth this year without a published timed workout.
“She’s just fantastic and she’s one that doesn’t train off of breezes. She trains off of races. It’s a tiny thing but it’s worked out great. Joe is a fantastic horseman and he’s got a great team and a great crew,” Francois said. “I saw Xavier on my inside and I was surprised how well my filly kept going. I’m very pleased with how she went.”
Jockey Gomez Wins Two, Taken to Hospital Following Spill
Apprentice jockey Kevin Gomez registered back-to-back winners before being taken to the hospital after he was thrown from his mount in the third race.
Gomez, 22, was aboard even-money favorite Whiskey Sour tracking the leaders along the inside when they appeared to clip heels with Mr. Beer Goggles approaching the far turn of the seven-furlong claiming event.
Whiskey Sour stumbled slightly and dropped Gomez to the track beside the rail. Gomez was alert and moving but transported to the hospital complaining of neck pain and replaced on his final two mounts of the day. Whiskey Sour continued to run before being caught by outriders.
Prior to the spill, Gomez won the second race with Little Miss Lupe ($4.40) and the third with Imnaha ($25). He is named in five of nine races on Sunday’s card.
Rainbow 6 Carryover for Sunday’s Program
There will be a 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot carryover of $647.65 for Sunday’s nine-race program.
First race post time is 1:25 p.m.
No one had all six winners Saturday in the popular multi-race wager, which returned $27.72 for tickets with four of six winners.
The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 covers Races 4-9 and includes a $42,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf in Race 6; a $47,000 optional claiming allowance at 1 1/16 miles on grass for 3-year-olds and up featuring Grade 1 winner Chiropractor and Grade 3 winner Syntax in Race 7; and the return of 2015 Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male Noteworthy Peach against stakes winner Mr Palmer in a $47,000 optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds at a one-turn mile in Race 8.
Also on the program is a $42,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs led by Gursky, the 8-5 program favorite who ran third in the Ben’s Cat Stakes March 19.
Every Sunday during its 24-day summer meet Laurel serves up brunch as well as a Kids Zone with pony rides, crafts, a petting zoo and guest speaker. Brunch is $22 for adults, $11 for kids under 12 and free for children under 6, with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys available for another $12.
Notes: Jockey Feargal Lynch visited the winner’s circle twice with Ivy Pepper ($4.80) in the first race and Louis the Great ($11.20) in the seventh. Trainer Dove Houghton saddled both Icy Miss ($8.60) in the fifth race and Louis the Great.
