Motion-Trained Trio Set for Saturday’s $150,000 Lady Baltimore
Motion-Trained Trio Set for Saturday’s $150,000 Lady Baltimore
Laurel Dash, Laurel Futurity, Selima Stakes Supporting Features
LAUREL, MD – Trainer Graham Motion entered three horses for Saturday’s $150,000 Lady Baltimore Stakes on the opening day program of the fall meeting at Laurel Park.
Pink Poppy, Interrupted and Joy are scheduled to clash with five rivals, as well as each other, in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares.
“All horses have their own running styles,” Motion said. “I don’t see them interfering with each other.”
The Lady Baltimore will be the main event on a 10-race card that will also feature the $100,000 Laurel Dash, a 6-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, as well as a pair of 5 ½-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds, the $75,000 Laurel Futurity and the $75,000 Selima Stakes for fillies.
Arindel Farm’s Pink Poppy finished a wide-trip sixth in the De La Rose at Saratoga on Aug. 8. In her previous start, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow finished third in the Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap (G3) at Parx Racing. Earlier this year, Pink Poppy captured the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park.
“She is coming out of some legitimate races and she should be the shortest price of the three,” said Motion, who named Trevor McCarthy to ride the Florida-bred filly.
Pin Oak Stud’s Interrupted is coming off an optional claiming allowance victory at Laurel July 24, when she closed with a rush to win by a neck under Matthew Rispoli, who has the return mount Saturday. The 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow, who launched her career with a pair of victories over the Laurel turf course in the fall of 2013, captured the $100,000 Penn Oaks last year.
“She’s undefeated at Laurel, 3-for-3. She ran really well when she won last time and this is a good logical spot for her,” said Motion, whose stable is based at Fair Hill Training Center in Northeast Maryland.
Dark Hollow Farm’s Joy made a wide sweeping move before earning a hard-fought photo-finish victory in the All Brandy Stakes over the Laurel course Aug. 22.
“She ran really well last time out against Maryland-breds. She likes the turf at Laurel, but this is a bit of a step up against open company,” said Motion, who named Forest Boyce to ride the 5-year-old daughter of Pure Prize.
Graded-stakes winner Speed Seeker is expected to seek her first victory of the 2015 season for trainer Joan Scott in the Lady Baltimore. The 4-year-old daughter of Heatseeker, who finished fifth behind Pink Poppy in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf in January, hasn’t won since posting a dominating four-length optional claiming allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs last December. The Florida-bred filly had captured the Ontario Colleen (G3) at Woodbine a little more than a year ago.
Michael Matz-trained Sumba Sunset, a graded stakes-placed filly who finished second in a Saratoga allowance two starts back; Dale Capuano-trained Monster Sleeping, who captured the 6 ½-furlong Jameela over the Laurel turf course Aug. 22; and Hamilton Smith-conditioned Fasnacloich, a graded stakes-placed 5-year-old mare who captured the Justakiss Stakes at Delaware Park in June; bring solid credentials into the Lady Baltimore. Red Hot Tweet and Brenda’s Way round out the field.
In the Laurel Dash, Chalk Racing’s Night Officer tops a field of 12 turf sprinters. The 7-year-old gelding gave local legend Ben’s Cat all he could handle before settling for second in the Mister Diz Stakes over the Laurel course Aug. 22. Boyce has the return mount.
Trainer Bruce Brown also entered Spring to the Sky, a multiple stakes winner at Saratoga last year who will seek a return to winning form in the Laurel Dash.
Jamie Ness-trained Oak Bluffs, who captured the My Frenchman at Monmouth Park Aug. 8, will shoot for his fifth consecutive victory and sixth win in seven starts since being claimed for $20,000 at Gulfstream in February.
Against the Win, Ancil, A P Elvis, Barney Rebel, Blameshifter, Choctaw Chuck, Jack’s in the Deck, Majestic Hussar and Rapid Dan round out the field.
In the Laurel Futurity, the Motion-trained Split is slated to seek his second straight victory over the Laurel turf course while taking on eight rivals. Dark Hollow Farm and partners’ son of Speightstown broke his maiden in his second career start and first turf try Aug. 16. The Maryland-bred colt will once again be ridden by Boyce.
Motion also entered Mid Life Crisis, a debut winner at Delaware Park who finished a distant sixth in the Saratoga Special (G2).
Captain Alex, Deltalina, Formal Summation, Gotta Be Gold , Louise the Laser, Ranger’s Coming and Thunder Pass were also entered for the Futurity.
In the Selima Stakes, Silverton Hill Farm’s Ruby Notion was entered to seek back-to-back stakes triumphs while taking on nine other juvenile fillies. The Wesley Ward-trained filly won at first asking over Churchill Downs’ main track in May before venturing to England, where she finished fifth against the boys in the Windsor Castles Stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting. The daughter of Great Notion returned to winning form in the Colleen Stakes over the Monmouth Park turf Aug. 16.
McCarthy has been named to ride Ruby Notion.
Motion-trained Fly Girl, who debuted with a second-place finish at Belmont Park before breaking through with her first victory Aug. 15 on the Laurel turf, is scheduled for a start in the Selima. Julian Pimentel has the mount aboard the daughter of Jump Start.
Skeedattle Associates’ Look Who’s Talking, who closed with a rush over the Laurel turf to post a victorious debut score Aug. 22, is slated to return in the Selima for trainer Robin Graham and Boyce.
Atara, Azuma Mura, Chief Bow No Move, Dare to Be, Holiday Wishes, Table Jumper and Un Po Di Vino were also entered for the Selima.
