Majestic Dunhill Springs Upset in $100,000 City of Laurel
Majestic Dunhill Springs Upset in $100,000 City of Laurel
America’s Tale Repels Challenge in $100,000 Safely Kept
Among Five Stakes Worth $500,000 on Salute the Troops Day
LAUREL, MD – R A Hill Stable’s Majestic Dunhill, a sprint stakes winner on the grass this summer, transferred his success to the main track with a last-to-first half-length upset in Saturday’s $100,000 City of Laurel at Laurel Park.
The City of Laurel for 3-year-olds and the $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies, both at seven furlongs, were among five stakes worth $500,000 in purses on a 10-race Salute the Troops Day program.
Ridden by Feargal Lynch for New York-based trainer George Weaver, Majestic Dunhill ($21) was racing for the first time on dirt, finishing up in 1:23.44 over a main track rated good. Runner-up Smooth B was a length ahead of pacesetter Oldies But Goodies in third, with another neck back to Grade 3 winner Golden Brown. Old Time Revival, the narrow 9-5 favorite, finished last.
Majestic Dunhill encountered some trouble at the start, bumping with Old Time Revival after breaking from Post 8 and having to steady, getting pinched back to trail the nine-horse field as Oldies But Goodies cruised up front through fractions of 23.46 seconds, 44.69 and 1:09.88.
Oldies But Goodies hung tough past the eighth pole before being surrounded by his rivals led by Majestic Dunhill, who was steered to the far outside by Lynch for a steady determined run through the lane.
“This was his first time on the dirt. He ran very good in a lot of turf stakes and it was just a trial today. They supplemented him into this race so it was a big ask and I’m glad they did,” Lynch said. “To be honest, I couldn’t see how far back I was but knew when I got him into the straight and got him outside I thought I was going to run them down.”
Majestic Dunhill, by Grade 1-winning dirt sprinter Majesticperfection, had three wins, a second and two thirds from nine turf starts. He won the My Frenchman July 14 at Monmouth Park going about 5 ½ furlongs, and was most recently beaten a neck when second in the 6 ½-furlong Franklin-Simpson Stakes Sept. 13 at Kentucky Downs.
America’s Tale Repels Challenge in $100,000 Safely Kept
Naveed Chowhan’s America’s Tale, collared by favored Estilo Femenino in mid-stretch, responded when roused by jockey Trevor McCarthy and edged clear to a two-length victory in the $100,000 Safely Kept.
The win was the first in stakes company for America’s Tale ($9) and one of four on the afternoon for McCarthy, who also captured the $100,000 Smart Halo for 2-year-old fillies with Congrats Gal and the $100,000 James F. Lewis for 2-year-olds with Scrap Copper. The winning time was 1:23.97.
“She’s a really nice filly and I was pretty excited to ride her after watching her replays,” McCarthy said. “When I got to the lead I was pretty happy where I was. She relaxed nice out there for me and when she had some competition turning for home she dug in pretty well.”
America’s Tale got to the front from her outside post and was in charge through fractions of :22.95, :46.51 and 1:11.37 with Estilo Femenino and Miss Disco Stakes winner Majestic Reason in closest pursuit. Estilo Femenino, racing first time for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, ranged up alongside the leader after straightening for home but America’s Tale was up for the challenge and spurted away.
America’s Tale, trained by Bernie Flint, has now won two straight. She was a front-running winner over older horses last out in a one-mile optional claimer Setp. 30 at Churchill Downs.
“She is special. We are blessed to have her,” Chowhan said. “We’ve always been high on her. She got sick when she was at Fair Grounds but since then she’s been doing good. Being by Gio Ponti we thought maybe she’d be a grass filly, but she really likes dirt better. Thanks to Laurel for having this 3-year-old stake because pretty soon she’ll be running against older fillies so this was a good chance.”
