Miz Creed Impresses in Career Debut at Laurel Saturday
Charles Town Shipper Wins for Late Breeder of Classic Winner Hansel

LAUREL, MD – Miz Creed, racing for accomplished late breeder Marvin Little Jr., broke on top and never looked back on the way to an easy 3 ½-length front-running debut victory Saturday at Laurel Park.

Under a hand ride from jockey Oscar Flores, Miz Creed ($12.80) ran seven furlongs in 1:23.60 over a fast main track in the $40,000 maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3 and up. Atlantic Avenue finished second over another first-time starter, $250,000 auction purchase and narrow 3-1 favorite Taking Aim.

Miz Creed was sharp leaving the gate from Post 4 in the field of seven, setting the pace on the outside of Overheated through fractions of 23.19 and 46.86 seconds. Miz Creed put that rival away around the turn and straightened for home in command after six furlongs in 1:11.21, separating from her rivals through the lane.

The 3-year-old Jimmy Creed filly had been dutifully prepared for her unveiling by Charles Town-based trainer Timothy Grams, who received Miz Creed from Marvin Little Jr.'s son, Jeff. The elder Little, who passed away in July 2017 at the age of 79, bred 1991 Preakness (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Hansel.

"We've had her quite a while. Jeff Little sent her up to me. We've had a couple horses for Jeff. He told me to just take my time and as she went along I said, 'This filly might be something special.' We just brought her along and she’s handled everything we've asked her to do," Grams said. "I had her ready to run maybe a month ago and couldn't get a race. I entered here for 5 1/2 [furlongs] because I didn't know if I had her fit enough for seven-eighths, and when this race went I said, 'Let's do it.'"

"The filly just does things easy, and she’s got a brain. First time away from home, I really liked the way things went today," he added. "I thought she would like this track because it wasn’t real deep. With this long stretch and the second wire, even though she was running easy on the backside there was a lot of race left. But, she ran good so I was really pleased with her."

In a pair of $40,000 maiden special weights for 2-year-olds, Mens Grille Racing’s Maryland-bred Hall Pass ($6.40) opened up a six-length lead held on for a head victory in Saturday's opener for trainer Hamilton Smith, and Mary Trombetta’s Durkin's Call ($5.60) rolled to an 8 1/2-length win in his fifth start and first in Maryland.

John & Cheryl Banner's My Sistersledge ($5.20), upset winner of the 2017 Maryland Million Ladies led all the way in a 5 3/4-length triumph in the first of two $47,000 third-level optional claiming allowance events rained off the turf. In the second, Siralfredthegreat ($22.80) never trailed in springing a 10-1 upset for his second straight win.

Notes: Jockey Julian Pimentel and trainer Mike Trombetta combined for a pair of winners Saturday, My Sistersledge ($5.20) in the fourth race and Durkin’s Call ($5.60) in the ninth. Jockey Victor Carrasco visited the winner’s circle with Hall Pass ($6.40) in the first and Lady Vicki ($7) in the eighth … Apprentice jockey Antonio Quiles will be out indefinitely after suffering a broken collarbone and fractured ribs in a sixth-race spill Friday. His mount, Rubys Fire, was near the lead when she broke down approaching the sixteenth pole … Laurel will open its doors at 9:45 a.m. Sunday for wagering on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which has a 10:05 a.m. post time. First post for Laurel's 10-race card is 1:10 p.m.