LAUREL, MD. 9-13-14---William M. Backer Revocable Trust’s Moon River shot through a seam between the inner rail and frontrunner Tiz What She Is and drew away to win the second division of the $60,000 Jamestown Stakes for 2-year old Virginia-breds.

Victor Carrasco accepted the riding assignment from trainer Jonathan Sheppard aboard this first time starter by Bluegrass Cat. The bay colt was patiently ridden until a path cleared, allowing him to wrest the lead and complete the 5-1/2 furlong distance over the firm turf in 1:03.45. Moon River won by 2-1/4 lengths over Johns Kitten, with Willisville taking third.

Assistant trainer Keri Vrion said, “He trains well, vans well, behaves nicely and has really been like an older horse from the very beginning. Mr. Sheppard usually thinks a lot of a horse when he starts one for the first time in a stakes race. We had big expectations coming into today because this horse has done everything right and he showed us that we were right.”

Moon River paid $8.20.

About Laurel Park
Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.