Lucy N Ethel, Mrs McDougal Nominated to $100,000 Willa On the Move
Lucy N Ethel, Mrs McDougal Nominated to $100,000 Willa On the Move
Graded Stakes Winners Among 25 Nominees to Open Six-Furlong Sprint
One of Four Stakes Worth $375,000 in Purses Saturday, Dec. 9
LAUREL, MD – Graded stakes winners Lucy N Ethel and Mrs McDougal top 25 horses nominated to the $100,000 Willa On the Move, one of four stakes worth $375,000 in purses set for Saturday, Dec. 9 at Laurel Park.
The Willa On the Move, for fillies and mares 3 and older, is contested at six furlongs. It is joined on the program by the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity, $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and $75,000 Howard M. Bender Memorial, all at six furlongs for Maryland-bred/sired horses.
J A G Racing and Jettany Thoroughbred Corp.’s Lucy N Ethel, trained by Todd Pletcher, began her career with four straight wins including the Old Hat (G3) at Gulfstream Park and Prioress (G2) at Saratoga last year. The 4-year-old During filly returned from an 11-month layoff this fall and won the Pumpkin Pie Stakes Nov. 5 at Aqueduct last out.
2 TY’s Mrs McDougal is winless in four starts this year for California-based trainer Richard Mandella. She won the Lake George (G2) in 2015 and Noble Damsel (G3) in September 2016, her most recent victory.
Among other nominees are Shine Again Stakes winner Line of Best Fit, second to Songbird in the Delaware Handicap (G1) in July; multiple stakes winners Absatootly, My Magician and 3-year-old Shimmering Aspen; stakes winners Holiday Disguise, Lake Ponchatrain, Miss Inclusive, Ms Locust Point and Next Best Thing; and Grade 3-placed Indulgent and Ivy Bell.
Richard Golden’s Clever Mind, winner of the Maryland Million Nursery in his career debut Oct. 21; and filly Limited View, who captured the Maryland Million Lassie on the same card, top 20 nominees to the Maryland Juvenile Futurity for 2-year-olds, along with Whirlin Curlin, upset winner of the Christopher Elser Memorial Nov. 25 at Laurel.
Limited View, owned by Fred Wasserloos, George Greenwalt and trainer John Salzman Jr., is also among 20 horses nominated to the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, along with Donna Freyer Stakes winner Fanniebellefleming and stakes-placed Caught Dream’n and Eight Six Mets.
The Howard Bender attracted 14 nominations led by stakes winners It’s the Journey, Noteworthy Peach, Sonny Inspired, Struth and Winplaceorshowono; Lewisfield, a winner of three straight by 27 combined lengths; and Final Prospect and Rockinn On Bye, who ran 2-3 in last year’s race.
