MJC Celebration Day Stakes Draw 127 Nominations
MJC Celebration Day Stakes Draw 127 Nominations
Private Terms, Caesar’s Wish for 3-Year-Olds Top Five Stakes Worth $425,000
Inaugural Fantasy Owners Day Drawing Great Response
Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Giveaway with Program Purchase
LAUREL, MD – Led by the $100,000 Private Terms and $100,000 Caesar’s Wish for 3-year-olds, a total of 127 horses were nominated to five stakes worth $425,000 in purses on Maryland Jockey Club Celebration Day, Saturday March 18 at Laurel Park.
Marathon Farms, Inc.’s multiple stakes winner O Dionysus is expected to make his two-turn debut in the 28th running of the Private Terms at about 1 1/16 miles. The Maryland-bred son of Bodemeister was a three-length winner of the one-mile Miracle Wood Feb. 18 at Laurel in his last start.
Also among the nominees are Grade 3-placed Bonus Points, a Maryland-bred trained by Todd Pletcher; multiple stakes winner Cool Arrow; stakes winners High Roller, who edged O Dionysus in the Frank Whiteley Jan. 21 at Laurel, and John Barleycorn; stakes-placed Carradine, No More Talk and Two Charley’s; and recent Laurel maiden winners Dharmaster, Story Spinner and Tiz He the One.
The 29th running of the one-mile Caesar’s Wish for 3-year-old fillies attracted 28 nominations led by Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship winner Crabcakes, who lost for the first time in four starts last time out in the Wide Country Feb.18 at Laurel. Stakes winners Yorkiepoo Princess and Dublin Girl; stakes-placed Banty’s Girl, Forever Liesl, Kathleen Elizabeth, Lucky in Malibu, She’s Achance Too and Tainted Angel; and Jenda’s Agenda, Shacklefords Lady and Sine Wave, all unbeaten in two starts, are also nominated.
The $75,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles proved to be the most popular race with 41 nominations topped by 2015 winner Page McKenney, the Grade 3-winning claimer-turned-millionaire trained by Mary Eppler. Now 7, Page McKenney returned from nine months between races to win the Native Dancer Jan. 21 at Laurel and was second in the John B. Campbell Feb. 18.
Campbell winner Bodhisattva, second in the Native Dancer, is expected to make his 29th lifetime start in the Harrison Johnson. Other stakes winners among the nominees are 2016 Cornhusker (G3) winner Smack Smack and 2015 Harrison Johnson runner-up Adirondack King, Charitable Annuity, while Harpoon, Mr Palmer and North Ocean are all on three-race win streaks.
Maryland-bred/sired sprinters are represented with 10 nominees in the $75,000 Not For Love at six furlongs for 4-year-olds and up including stakes winners Nicaradalic Rocks and Sonny Inspired, and the $75,000 Conniver for females 4 and up at seven furlongs topped by multiple stakes winner Lovable Lady.
Inaugural Fantasy Owners Day Drawing Great Response
Also part of the afternoon is the inaugural Fantasy Owners Day, one of racing’s most unique and innovative events designed as an introduction to prospective Thoroughbred owners, jointly presented by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) and Maryland Jockey Club.
More than 200 people have already registered for the event which includes a Q&A session with top racing partnerships, racing officials and horsemen. Participants will also be randomly paired to a horse entered that afternoon and enjoy all the same amenities afforded to the connections of that horse, such as access to the paddock and winner’s circle.
Free registration is required by Wednesday, March 15. For more information visit mtha.eventbrite.com.
After an optional morning training session on Laurel’s apron, registrants will sign in at 10 a.m. when they will be paired with a horse for the day. A prospective owner’s seminar will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon in The Terrace Dining Room.
All fans will take home a long-sleeve Maryland Jockey Club t-shirt free with purchase of a racing program, while supplies last.
