Cornucopian favored, for now, in Preakness Future Wager

LAUREL, MD – Alani continues to improve.

The 4-year-old Parx-based filly, trained by Mike Moore and ridden by Frankie Pennington, took down some nice fillies and mares in Sunday’s featured ninth race at Laurel Park, a third-level allowance at six furlongs.

Alani, who earned her last two victories in gate-to-wire fashion, broke outward a bit from her far outside post, then advanced three wide to shadow three-time stakes-winner Miss Harriett and stakes-placed Happy Clouds through an opening quarter clocked in 22.38 seconds.

Pennington inched Alani slightly closer to the leader after a half in 45.70, then asked his mount for her best at the three-sixteenths. Alani was a bit late in making her final lead change, but she received an energy boost when she did, and she kicked clear to win by four lengths in 1:10.48 over the fast track.

Happy Clouds, the longest shot on the board at 22-1, stayed on for second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Miss Harriett. Multiple stakes-placed Centre Court Champ, making her first start in over a year, finished fourth, with favored stakes-winner Cap Classique bringing up the rear after breaking slowly.

Alani returned $6.20 to win as the second betting choice. Di’s Surprise scratched.

“She’s always forwardly placed,” Pennington said. “She broke good, but she was a little more relaxed early on, which worked out perfect because [Miss Harriett] and [Happy Clouds] were out there together. I let herself get in stride, and once I asked her, she went on for me.”

Pennington has tons of experience with Alani, dating back to when John Servis trained the filly. Alani made her first seven starts for Servis, and Pennington was aboard for six of those races, including a 4 1 /2 length win in a maiden special weight at Laurel on November 16.

Pennington’s partnership with Alani continued after she was claimed for $75,000 by trainer Mike Moore on behalf of Hardesty Stables and Michael Day. Alani has now won three of four starts for the Moore – Pennington combination.

“Since she’s gotten older, she’s definitely matured a lot,” Pennington mentioned. “She’s really started paying attention and loving her job. She’s been good to me and doing better and better.”

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Patricia Ziefle, Alani is a Competitive Edge half-sister to Grade 3-placed The Gomper out of a winning full sister to Grade 2-winning millionaire Jonesboro.

Alani went through the auction ring three times. A $24,000 RNA as a short yearling, she was a $19,000 buyback as a yearling before selling for $57,000 as a May juvenile.

It’s been a great start to 2025 for Moore, who won with 21 of 81 starters. Among his stable stars are Takethemoneyhoney, who took a second-level allowance here two weeks ago with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, and Windsor Gold, a 94-Beyer winner of a $100,000 optional claimer at Parx on April 15.

*Cornucopian favored, for now, in Preakness Future Wager

After Sunday’s card at Laurel, Bob Baffert’s Cornucopian was the 5-1 favorite in the Preakness 150 Future Win Wager Pool.

However, Cornucopian may not be the chalk for long, as the seven-figure yearling purchase lost to Garamond in a first-level allowance race at Aqueduct earlier in the day.

With $83,659 in the pool, here are the updated odds as of 5:09 pm ET on Sunday afternoon:

1. Admiral Dennis (84-1)
2. Admire Daytona (83-1)
3. American Promise (23-1)
4. Baeza (12-1)
5. Bracket Buster (99-1)
6. Built (86-1)
7. Burnham Square (22-1)
8. Caldera (19-1)
9. California Burrito (99-1)
10. Captain Cook (99-1)
11. Chunk of Gold (79-1
12. Citizen Bull (21-1)
13. Clever Again (21-1)
14. Coal Battle (29-1)
15. Cornucopian (5-1)
16. East Avenue (27-1)
17. Final Gambit (41-1)
18. Flying Mohawk (99-1)
19. Gosger (45-1)
20. Grande (39-1)
21. Heart of Honor (99-1)
22. Hill Road (50-1)
23. Instant Replay (74-1)
24. Journalism (6-1)
25. Luxor Café (35-1)
26. Madaket Road (72-1)
27. Neoequos (99-1)
28. Owen Almight (74-1)
29. Pay Billy (72-1)
30. Poster (scratched)
31. Publisher (61-1)
32. Render Judgment (99-1)
33. River Thames (30-1)
34. Rodriguez (17-1)
35. Sandman (14-1)
36. Sovereignty (16-1)
37. Tappan Street (scratched)
38. Tiztastic (27-1)
39. Voldemort (99-1)
40. All Other Three Year Olds (28-1)

The Preakness 150 Future Win Wager Pool will close Saturday, May 3rd, at 6:00 pm ET. The wager has a $2 minimum bet value with an 18% takeout rate.

*Around the track:

17-year-old jockey Yedsit Hazlewood rode two winners on Sunday, moving him to ten victories at the Laurel Park Spring Meet, two behind leader Jaime Rodriguez in the race for the riding title…Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. The first post is at 12:10 ET with two low-takeout (12%) “Value Pick 5” wagers…Watch and Wager on the Kentucky Derby with our “Kentucky Derby Day Party” at Laurel Park. Elevate your Derby Day experience with our exclusive buffet featuring Kentucky classics and Maryland favorites. A general ticket purchase includes admission, access to the Terrace Dining area, complete buffet service, non-alcoholic beverages, and an