LAUREL, MD. 02-17-14---Ilikecandy loves Laurel Park, running her record to three-for-four at the central Maryland track after a dominating seven-length victory in the $100,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes for fillies and mares Monday afternoon.

Alex Cintron pushed go and the daughter of Malibu Moon raced comfortably ahead of her four rivals before drawing away to win in 1:153.91 for the 1-1/8^th mile distance over the fast main track. Malibu Red chased along the rail to finish second.

“I wanted to get a good spot early and I was able to,” Cintron said. “We stayed off the rail and out of trouble. This is a very nice filly that will get better the farther she goes. I was comfortable and confident today and when we closed at the quarter pole I was making sure she’d be ready to go farther next time.”

The Graham Motion trainee has never been worse than second in five lifetime starts. This was her first stakes win. The filly broke her maiden in her second career start last November and won an allowance race the following month before a solid runner-up finish at Aqueduct on January 10.

“She broke a little slow in her last start in New York and I think she was intimidated by the dirt in her face a little,” said Motion’s assistant Adrian Rolls. “We left it up to Alex that if she broke well just to let her run her race. That formula has worked for her very well in the past and she obviously was very suited to that today. She was very good in the paddock, very relaxed and Alex did a superb job of rating her.”

Ilikecandy paid $4.20.

RUSSELL, McCARTHY INVOLVED IN PHOTO FINISHES IN FIRST THREE RACES

Jockeys Sheldon Russell and Trevor McCarthy wagered a personal photo finish battle in the first three races Monday afternoon.

Russell and Ausable River gutted out a wire-to-wire score in the opener, digging in to beat McCarthy and Neveradullmoment by a neck.

McCarthy turned the tables in the second, rallying Princess Appeal in the final strides to defeat Russell and Scipion’s Girl.

In the third, Russell guided Exclusively Greek to a closing victory by a head over Bret’s a Caddie, who was ridden by McCarthy.
 

GARY CAPUANO STAYS HOT, SADDLES A PAIR OF WINNERS MONDAY

Trainer Gary Capuano has saddled 14 starters at Laurel Park this year with every runner hitting the board. This afternoon, the 50-year-old captured a pair of races as Kennesaw Mountain ($6.40-race 5) and Steady N Love ($2.80-race 7) crossed the finish line first. Capuano has five wins, four second place finishes and five third place finishes during the winter meeting.

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.