LAUREL, MD. 10-27-12---Edwin W. Merryman’s Jazzy Idea, the only filly in the field, broke her own course record over six furlongs on the turf to capture the $150,000 Laurel Dash for three-year-olds and up by ¾ of a length over defending champion Ben’s Cat.

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Jazzy Idea bested eight males while running the distance in 1:07.29 to beat the mark of 1:07.45 she established on the meet’s opening day while winning the Jameela Stakes.

“I’m speechless,” said Merryman, who also trains the filly. “Maybe I should have run her next week (Breeders’ Cup Fillies Turf). Her style of just sitting off the pace suited this race perfect today. I left it up to Elvis to go whenever he wanted. She’s 3-for-3 on Laurel turf now and before today Ben’s Cat was 5-for-5. She is far and above the best horse I have ever had my hands on.”

Ridden confidently, Jazzy Idea began moving with five-sixteenths remaining, gathered clear sailing for the stretch and closed with a rush to seize the lead and win going away. Night Officer closed to be third, two lengths behind Ben’s Cat.

The second choice, Jazzy Idea paid $6.80 to win and set up a $21 exacta payoff. Three weeks ago, the daughter of Great Notion won the Maryland Million Oaks on the main track. She is now 6-for-8 lifetime while sprinting on grass and has never been worse than second.

“The last two races she showed a lot of speed,” said Trujillo. “Today we had a good trip. We turned for home and had a clear track. She finished good. She’s a real nice filly that tries so hard every time.”

This was the first loss on the turf course for Ben’s Cat. The son of Parker’s Storm Cat is now 18-of-28 lifetime with earnings of $1,246,090.

“He ran his race,” said Ben Cat’s owner and trainer King Leatherbury. “He got a great trip and ran the best he could. It figures a closer would win it and she established a new track record and beat me. She is a 3-year-old filly super horse.”

Merryman said his star could make her final start of the season in the Safely Kept Stakes here on Nov. 17.

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.