Hidden Overture takes turf debut in Selima Stakes
Hazlewood, Ruiz win three races
LAUREL, MD—After a lengthy stewards’ inquiry and multiple jockey objections, Coast Highway’s number remained up following Saturday’s $125,000 Laurel Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Exceller Turf Course.
Ridden by Jorge Ruiz for trainer Graham Motion, Coast Highway raced three wide near the back of the pack as Fullcup and Bishop Moon set fractions of 24.63 and 51.02 seconds on a rain-soaked course that was downgraded to yielding conditions throughout the day.
Coast Highway was forced out four paths wide on the second turn as his inner counterpart, Broadcast, checked severely.
After six furlongs in 1:17.12, Fullcup drifted off the rail, allowing Broadcast to rally inside. Coast Highway moved in slightly, and Fullcup lugged out, causing Howard’s Hope to clip heels and fall between them, unseating jockey Jose Lezcano.
Coast Highway won by a head in 1:48.38, beating an unlucky Broadcast. Fullcup was third, with Bishop Moon, Perfect Dream, and Moneta Agenda behind.
Howard’s Hope walked off the track under his own power. Lezcano reported dizziness and shoulder pain and was transported to a local medical facility for precautionary X-rays. Attendants at the racetrack noted that Lezcano had a full range of motion in his joints.
Mychel Sanchez, riding Broadcast, and Chantal Sutherland, riding Perfect Dream, both filed claims of foul against Ruiz, but the stewards did not accept their objections.
However, the stewards concluded that Fullcup was at fault in the incident involving Howard’s Hope. As a result, Fullcup was disqualified and placed sixth.
Ruiz told reporters during the inquiry that he felt Sanchez initiated contact with him while attempting to angle out for racing room on the far turn.
Coast Highway paid $13 to win. Fire Marshal was scratched. It was Ruiz’s third turf win of the day.
Coast Highway, bred in Kentucky by New Horizon Farm, is the third stakes-winner sired by Corniche in his first crop. He was bought for $25,000 as a yearling and later purchased by Amerman Racing for $105,000 at Ocala in April.
Motion unveiled Coast Highway in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race at Colonial on September 4, and the colt responded with a comfortable 3 3/4-length win under Ruiz.
*Hidden Overture takes turf debut in Selima
Horse racing celebrates resilience, and perhaps no jockey has demonstrated more of that trait in recent years than Julian Pimentel.
The 45-year-old Pimentel, a winner of more than 1,800 races in his career, took a hiatus from riding after recording 42 wins in 2021. He returned to the track earlier this year and reached the winner’s circle for the first time on June 27.
“I was fighting with my weight for a long time,” Pimentel said after riding Hidden Overture to victory in the $125,000 Selima Stakes for juvenile fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the Bowl Game Turf Course. “I had injuries. Finally, I was able to get my weight down and come back. It’s been fun.”
Pimentel’s comeback has been quite successful so far, with six wins in 26 races. The Selima marked his first stakes win since Virginia Beach’s Camptown victory at Colonial Downs on September 1, 2021.
Beginning at post six, Hidden Overture stalked the pace from the outside while Sun Valley sped clear through fractions of 24.16 and 49.94 seconds. Hidden Overture made her intentions known with a three-wide brush after a six-furlong clocking of 1:16.24, then took over the lead without much fuss in the upper stretch.
Despite racing greenly, Hidden Overture held sway by three-quarters of a length over Homewawayfromhome, with Sea Isle City another half-length behind in third. Sun Vally was fourth. Then came Maybe Gold, favored Dance to Glory, Millford Lass, Gypsy Lullaby, and Cherokee Purple. Cash Or Credit scratched.
“She broke very sharply, and I was sitting in a great spot,” Pimentel said. “In the lane, she was pretty erratic, going in and out. She was a little green, but she ran huge.”
Sanchez, aboard Homeawayfromhome, claimed a foul against the winner, but the claim was not upheld. Hidden Overture paid $14.20 to win after covering the distance in 1:47.02 on good going.
Trained by Brittany Russell for Golden Lion Racing and Hidden Brook Farm, Hidden Overture is by Mendelssohn and is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed turf runner Bojaca Blessing. Tanya Lobsiger bred her in Kentucky.
Purchased for $15,000 as a yearling, Hidden Overture sold for $180,000 at Ocala in June. She made a striking career debut in an off-turf heat at Delaware on September 3, winning by 13 ¾ lengths as the overwhelming favorite.
When asked about his feelings on the stakes win, Pimentel replied: “I was waiting for this one.”
*Around the track:
Yedsit Hazlewood, Maryland’s leading jockey in 2025, returned home with a riding triple. The teenage sensation, currently riding regularly in Kentucky, guided Sometime ($6.60) to victory in the fourth race for trainer Phil Capuano. He returned to the winner’s circle in race 7 aboard Honor Mags ($9.80) for trainer Mark Shuman, then closed out the day aboard Baru ($5) for trainer Jose Corrales.
Jorge Ruiz rode two turf winners on Saturday. Ruiz kicked down the leaders in the day’s opening contest on Meadowlark Drive for trainer Kathleen DeMasi. Ruiz was unseated before the fifth race by plucky 2-year-old Alborz ($8.20). He dusted himself off and weaved through traffic to win.
Live racing resumes Sunday with ten races. First post time is 12:00 pm, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers with a LOW 12% takeout.
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