LAUREL, MD. 09-04-12---The 17-week Laurel Park fall meeting begins Wednesday afternoon with a nine-race card, headlined by the $100,000 Jameela Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares. The 6-furlong test, scheduled for the turf, drew a full field of 11 plus an also-eligible runner.

Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Frank Carulli made Jazzy Idea the 2-1 morning line favorite. The daughter of Great Notion has five wins and five second place finishes in 14 career starts. The Edwin Merryman trainee spent the summer at Saratoga with respectable finishes in the Grade 1 Prioress and Grade 1 Test. Luis Garcia will be aboard the 3-year-old filly, who has a pair of stakes wins on the turf this year.

Bold Affair (5-2) tries the grass for the first time in her career for trainer Howard Wolfendale. The Two Punch filly had three straight stakes scores this spring in Maryland before a second place finish in the Sweet N Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park in late June. Bold Affair worked a half-mile in 52 seconds over the Laurel turf course on August 22. Abel Castellano retains the mount.

“I heard she did just fine in the work,” Castellano said. “It is expecting to rain tomorrow so if the race comes off the turf then we figure to be the ones to beat. She has run big all year and I have a lot of confidence in her.”

Colony Club (5-1) comes into the Jameela off a stakes score at Monmouth Park for owner-trainer Alexandra White. The 6-year-old daughter of Lion Hearted has 10 top two finishes on the turf in 21 career races. Forest Boyce will ride Colony Club for the 18^th time.

“We have a long history,” Boyce said. “I had my first career winner with her at Colonial (June 30, 2009), so she is one of my all-time favorites. She gives you 100% each time and is very versatile. I can put her on the lead or she is just as happy sitting back and making one run.”

Carole’s Love (8-1) has two victories and a second in five turf sprints this year. The Dale Capuano trainee comes into the race off a fourth place finish behind multiple stakes winner Sensible Lady. Paco Lopez has the riding assignment aboard the daughter of Not For Love.

Rounding out the field are Queen Chatanika (10-1), Lady Raven (12-1), Thisdanseistaken (15-1), Purely Love (15-1), Maryland Mystique (20-1), Calliope (30-1) and Gin Sweep (30-1). Awesome Flower (20-1) is on the also-eligible list.

Opening day features free admission, a complimentary live program and $2 draft beers. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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.