Among Four Stakes Worth $300,000 on Maryland Pride Day

LAUREL, MD – John and Cheryl Banner’s multiple stakes-winning homebred My Sistersledge continued her march toward a three-peat in the Maryland Million Ladies with a half-length triumph in Saturday’s $75,000 All Brandy Stakes at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/16-mile All Brandy for fillies and mares 3 and up on Laurel’s world-class turf course was the second of four stakes for Maryland-bred/sired horses worth $300,000 in purses on a 12-race Maryland Pride Day program.

Ridden by Julian Pimentel for trainer Mike Trombetta, My Sistersledge ($4.20) earned her sixth win in 10 career tries on the grass at Laurel, hitting the wire in 1:41.81 over a firm Dahlia turf course.

“It’s Maryland Pride Day and I’ve got to tell you, it’s fabulous for us to be here and to get a win on this day,” John Banner said.

Second by a neck but put up to the win following the disqualification of first-place finisher Goiba in her last start just 15 days prior, My Sistersledge was kept in the clear three wide by Pimentel as 25-1 long shot Annie Boo Boo set fractions of 25.04 and 48.68 seconds, still in front after six furlongs in 1:12.79.

Pimentel steered My Sistersledge further out approaching the stretch and set the 5-year-old mare down for a drive to the wire as Ghoul’s Night Out, a winner of two straight including the Jameela Stakes in her previous start, engaged on her inside and 18-1 shot Sunrisebernsteini battled along the rail.

Ghoul’s Night Out held second by a neck over Sunrisebernsteini, with My Sistersledge’s stablemate, Monte Crista, a length back in fourth.

“I had a great trip. I let them go and I sat right behind and when it was time for me to go, I swung her out and she kept on to her business,” Pimentel said. “There was no speed in the race so I had to make sure I got out of there and be close. I didn’t want to leave her too much to do.”

Trombetta is pointing My Sistersledge, by Etched out of the Miesque’s Son mare Blushing Bride, to a return trip to the 1 1/8-mile Maryland Million Ladies Oct. 19. Overall, she has a record of 6-1-3 in 10 tries over the Laurel turf.

“She seems to be doing good right now so she should be ready,” Pimentel said.

Bred by John Manfuso Sr., former owner of the Maryland Jockey Club, All Brandy was named Maryland’s champion 3-year-old filly of 1962 who would go on to win three stakes in 1963 including the Barbara Fritchie Handicap. All Brandy was also the granddam of Maryland’s 1981 champion 2-year-old colt A Magic Spray.