Jockey Tais Lyapustina Earns First Professional Win
Jockey Tais Lyapustina Earns First Professional Win
Super Hi-5, Late Pick 5 Wagers Also Offer Carryovers
Grasshoppin Rallies Up the Rail to Take Allowance Feature
LAUREL, MD – Jose Corrales-owned and trained long shot Esken Lady took the lead after a slow quarter-mile and dismissed a stretch bid from even-money favorite Boosting to upset Friday’s third race and give apprentice jockey Tais Lyapustina her first professional victory.
A 5-year-old Eskendereya mare, Esken Lady ($33.40) ran one mile in 1:43.01 over a good main track to win the claiming event for fillies and mares 4 and older by three lengths.
Esken Lady was the 34th mount this year for Lyapustina, 35, who rides with a 10-pound weight allowance. A native of Russia, she came to the U.S. as a toddler and grew up near old Bowie Race Course, working as an exercise rider for such trainers as Rodney Jenkins and the late Eddie Gaudet.
Lyapustina had one previous win as an amateur on Nov. 6, 2014 at Laurel. She had finished second twice this year, Jan. 14 and March 23, at Laurel, and has also ridden at Charles Town.
“I’ve been riding races for about a year now and just slowly getting into it. I’ve done a couple amateur races in the past, but I really haven’t gotten going until now,” she said. “It means the world to me. I’ve been waiting for it for a while now, and I’ve been trying to work hard on it. It’s fantastic.”
Rainbow 6 Carryover Swells to $166,236 for Saturday
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot swelled to $166,235.72 for Saturday’s 10-race program after going unsolved for the 23rd consecutive racing day Friday at Laurel Park.
A total of $37,517 was bet into the popular multi-race wager Friday, adding to a carryover of $154,232.62 from the last live program Sunday, March 25. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $2,250.58.
The 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.
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 spans Races 5-10 and includes $42,000 entry-level allowances for 4-year-olds and up in Race 6 and fillies and mares 3 and up in Race 9. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
There will be carryovers of $13,155.04 in the $1 Super Hi-5 for Saturday’s opener and $2,906.19 in the 50-cent Late Pick 5 (Races 6-10). Tickets with four of five winners Friday returned $29.40.
Also on Saturday, fans can watch and wager on the 14-race Florida Derby (G1) Day program from Gulfstream Park as well as seven races from the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse.
Laurel will open its doors at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Wagering from Dubai begins with Race 3, the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2), with a post time of 8:50 a.m. The $10 million Dubai World Cup will go off as Race 9.
First race post time at Gulfstream Park is 11:30 a.m. The $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) has a scheduled post of 6:48 p.m.
Grasshoppin Rallies Up the Rail to Take Allowance Feature
Michael Jester’s homebred Grasshoppin lost the lead around the turn after setting a solid early pace, only to dig in again with a relentless drive along the rail to turn back Irish Colonel and win Friday’s featured eighth race.
Ridden by Sheldon Russell for winter-spring meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez, Grasshoppin ($10.20) ran seven furlongs in 1:24.05 over a good main track. Irish Colonel held second ahead of multiple stakes winner Sonny Inspired, who came with a late run to pass two-time Grade 3 winner and 7-5 favorite El Areeb for third.
Grasshoppin broke running and was in front through a quarter-mile in 23.21 seconds flanked by El Areeb, who settled into a stalking spot after breaking sharply to his right from outside Post 8. El Areeb forged a short lead after a half in 46.88 but was unable to hold off a slew of challengers once straightened for home led by his Cal Lynch-trained stablemate, Irish Colonel. Russell kept Grasshoppin to task in the lane and they were able to edge past Irish Colonel approaching the wire.
“Sheldon did a great job. He was all the time pushing the horse. He knows the horse likes to fight with the other horses,” Gonzalez said. “He breezes the horse all the time and he loves the horse. This race was really tough, so we’ll see how the horse comes out of it and where to go.”
Following El Areeb, making his first start since Jan. 8, in the order of finish were Final Prospect, Colonel Sharp, Rockinn On Bye and Noteworthy Peach.
Notes: Jockey Steve ‘Cowboy’ Hamilton won the fifth race aboard Moonlight Shadow ($20) and the ninth with Unbroken One ($50.20). Winter-spring meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez sent out a pair of winners, Parade of Nations ($3.80) in the sixth race and Grasshoppin ($10.40) in the eighth.
