All the Hardways takes allowance for 3-year-olds

LAUREL, MD – Unbothered by a cold February rain, St. Jude rallied from just off the pace under jockey Jaime Rodriguez to win Saturday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a $49,000 first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs.

Sent away the prohibitive favorite in the wagering, St. Jude settled into third position on the outside as Swifty Devil and Beaver State battled for early supremacy through fractions of 23.32 and 46.73 seconds over the good main track.

St. Jude cruised up to the leaders while three wide inside the quarter pole, then had to work a bit to draw clear of Beaver State by three lengths in 1:25.66. Swifty Devil held third, two lengths behind the runner-up. Then came Cathedral Beach and Boys of Summer. Uniwinner scratched.

St. Jude returned $3 to win.

Owner-breeder Jeremiah Kane and trainer Ben Perkins, Jr. have both exercised the patience of Job with St. Jude, a 6-year-old who made only his fourth lifetime start on Saturday.

“We had some setbacks,” Kane said. “The first time, he had a little shin as a 2-year-old. We were ready to run him, and he popped a shin, and we had to stop. As a 3-year-old, we were one workout away from racing, and he got loose and suffered a fetlock injury. It set him back again, so we didn’t get started until he was four.”

St. Jude has been worth the wait. He won his debut by 2 ½ lengths with an 89 Beyer in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel on March 20, 2023, then missed the remainder of the season.

St. Jude raced twice last year, finishing fifth in a first-level allowance on June 14 before running a strong second behind stakes-bound Worcester on Dec. 27.

Foaled in Kentucky, St. Jude is by Speightster out of the War Chant mare Aly Doll. Although St. Jude won his debut over good going, Kane was concerned about today’s wet track.

“We don’t do a lot of work on wet tracks because you don’t want to put him in jeopardy,” Kane admitted. “I was afraid of this today.”

Kane believes that St. Jude will stretch his ability to even longer distances.

“He’s a heck of a horse,” Kane added. “His best race is from the eighth pole home. Quite frankly, we want to get him to a mile, even longer. He just has that big heart and can run forever. He has a huge stride.”

All the Hardways takes co-featured allowance for 3-year-olds

Favored All the Hardways bested five other 3-year-olds in the co-featured fourth race, a $49,000 first-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option.

Trained by Jerry Robb for Hard Ten Stables, All the Hardways tracked pacesetting Mr. Mendelslew from the inside pocket, eased outside that foe on the second turn, then took over the lead without much fuss under jockey Xavier Perez.

All the Hardways opened a clear lead at the three-sixteenths pole, then held firm despite hopping back to his left lead nearing the wire. The Maryland-bred gelding by Paynter completed the distance in 1:50.24, while 3 ½ lengths better than Gun Trader. Roll On Jesse nipped Mr. Mendelslew for third. Top Blood and Dats Mr. Tap completed the order of finish.

All the Hardways returned $3.40 to win.

“He settled good,” Robb said. “Xavier was telling me how relaxed he was behind the horses, and I think he was looking for horses late. It looked like he lost interest.”

Bred by Hickory Ridge Farm, All the Hardways sold for $35,000 as a yearling. The hearty performer raced eight times last year, earned two wins, and placed in the restricted Dover Stakes at Delaware on Aug. 14.

All the Hardways made his seasonal debut two weeks ago, finishing second to favored Pay Billy in a similar first-level allowance.

“I think he’ll be better as he gets a little older,” Robb said. “It took him awhile to learn, he’s just starting to learn what he’s doing. In the paddock, he just runs over you. He’s getting better and better each race.”

Around the track:

Jockeys Angel Cruz and Jaime Rodriguez both booted home two winners on the Saturday program…Multiple stakes-winner Celtic Contender worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 flat this morning. Trained by Hamilton Smith, Celtic Contender captured the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes on Dec. 21 and is nominated to next Saturday’s $200,000 General George Stakes…Hittheroadjack, cross-nominated to the General George and next Saturday’s $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon.