Laurel Juvenile Stakes Nov. 16 Attract Several Stakes Winners

LAUREL, MD – Brittlyn Stable’s Grade 2 winner Minit to Stardom returned from her short vacation in triumphant fashion, cruising to a popular 3 ¾-length score in Friday’s feature race at Laurel Park.

With regular rider Alex Cintron aboard for trainer Jose Camejo, Minit to Stardom ($3.20) ran six furlongs in 1:10.19 over a fast main track in the open $55,000 allowance for fillies and mares 3 and older.

It was the first start for Minit to Stardom since finishing second to Come Dancing in the Gallant Bloom (G2) Sept. 22 at Belmont Park. The loss snapped a three-race win streak that was capped by a front-running victory in the Honorable Miss (G2) July 24 at Saratoga.

“I think she likes this weather. She likes it up north,” the Delta Downs (La.) based Camejo said. “She’s getting better and better and we take care of her and keep her happy.”

Sent off at 3-5, Minit to Stardom broke from the rail and settled in fourth as Baby Boss, Decoupage and Zorally tussled for the lead in a tightly packed bunch through a quarter-mile in 22.50 seconds. Cintron kept Minit to Stardom inside and she asserted her class midway on the turn after a half in 45.98, surging to the lead and pulling away once straightened for home.

“We’re just trying to keep her sound and trying to find easy spots like today and continue her success,” Camejo said.

The next stop will be Champions Day Dec. 14 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, but Camejo didn’t rule out another return to Laurel, where Minit to Stardom is now 2-0 lifetime including an optional claiming win over its world-class turf course June 7.

Laurel hosts prestigious Barbara Fritchie (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and older sprinting seven furlongs each February. The 68th edition will take place in 2020.

“We’ll think about it,” Camejo said. “The plans are on the table and anything that’s in her favor, we can do it.”

Laurel Juvenile Stakes Nov. 16 Attract Several Stakes Winners

Graded-stakes placed Raging Whiskey and Tuggle and stakes winners Newstome and Rookie Salsa are among 16 2-year-olds nominated to the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes Saturday, Nov. 16 at Laurel Park.

The Lewis and $100,000 Warrior’s Reward Smart Halo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, both at six furlongs on the main track, share top billing on Laurel’s Military Family Appreciation Day program.

Now with Jeremiah O’Dwyer at Laurel, Raging Whiskey won two of seven starts since June for California-based trainer Doug O’Neill including the 6 ½-furlong Capote Stakes Sept. 21 at Los Alamitos. In his second start, he ran third in the six-furlong Sanford (G3) at Saratoga July 13.

O’Dwyer also nominated Kentucky Juvenile Stakes winner Rookie Salsa, a debut winner at Laurel April 19 and Shotski, impressive Oct. 3 maiden winner at Laurel most recently fourth in the Street Sense Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs.

August Dawn Farm’s Tuggle has made his last two starts on turf, both in graded-stakes, after breaking his maiden in the slop in June at Belmont Park and running third in the Saratoga Special (G2) Aug. 10. Newstome won the Mark McDermott Stakes on Presque Isle Downs’ synthetic surface Oct. 16 for Laurel trainer Mike Trombetta, who also nominated Muchmorethanthis, third in the Howard County Stakes on the Laurel turf Sept. 28.

Madaket Stables, Albert Frasetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables Hello Beautiful tops 17 fillies nominated to the Smart Halo. The daughter of Golden Lad gave trainer Brittany Russell her first career stakes win in the Maryland Million Lassie Oct. 19, ridden by her husband, Sheldon Russell.

O’Dwyer has three horses nominated to the Smart Halo – Cruise and Danze, gutsy front-running Laurel maiden winner Nov. 1; Ilchester Cheetah, three-for-four lifetime with all three wins coming at Laurel, the latest Nov. 1; and stakes-tested Punk Rock Princess, a debut winner at Laurel May 2.

Also among the nominees are Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Vast, winner of the Hollywood Wildcat Stakes Sept. 22 at Monmouth Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott; and Stoneway Farm’s homebred Cofactor, a winner of two straight.

Notes: Jockey Jorge Ruiz booted home a pair of long shots Friday, taking Race 1 with John Salzman Sr.-trained Wicked Son ($67.80) and Race 8 with John Salzman Jr.-trained Shadow Boxer ($42.20). Alex Cintron also rode two winners, Candygramformongo ($5.80) in Race 4 and Minit to Stardom ($3.20) in Race 6.