Tapit Filly Amanite Impresses in Career Debut Saturday
Tapit Filly Amanite Impresses in Career Debut Saturday
Trainer Jonathaniel Badillo Earns First Career Victory
Triple Carryovers, New Post Time for Sunday Program
LAUREL, MD – Wertheimer & Frere’s Amanite, a homebred daughter of champion sire Tapit, launched her career in impressive fashion with a front-running 2 ¾-length triumph Saturday at Laurel Park.
Ridden by winter meet leader Trevor McCarthy for trainer Graham Motion, Amanite ($4.60) ran six furlongs in 1:12.81 over a fast main track as the 6-5 favorite in the $40,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies.
Out of the Indian Charlie mare Corail, Amanite broke sharply from Post 2 and hustled to the lead by McCarthy, going the opening quarter-mile in 23.58 seconds under moderate pressure from Free and Tale of Perfect La. She straightened for home in front after a half in 47.98 and steadily edged away from her rivals through the stretch. Free finished second, with Tale of Perfect La third.
“The plan was to just get her away good and see where she ended up. She really broke great. I was aggressive with her leaving the gate and we got a great position,” McCarthy said. “She really turned off almost too well for me when she got to the front but, wow, she was impressive.”
Amanite had been working steadily since mid-January at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. for her return. She initially joined Motion’s string last fall, posting two timed breezes in September before going to the sidelines.
“She galloped out very good. She was still kind of looking for company. I was really happy with her,” McCarthy said. “They were all pretty high on her in the fall, and she proved herself today.”
McCarthy added a second winner Saturday with Gold Square’s Little Miss Raelyn ($5.80) in Race 6, a $42,000 entry-level allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up.
Triple Carryovers, New Post Time for Sunday Program
First-race post time moves to 1:10 p.m. starting with Sunday’s eight-race program, which will feature carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, 50-cent Late Pick 5 and $1 Super Hi-5 wagers.
No one had all six winners in the Rainbow 6 Saturday, growing the carryover jackpot to $11,555.14. Tickets with five of six winners were each worth $1,253.58.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 spans Races 3-8.
The Late Pick 5 (Races 4-8) will have a carryover of $7,206.85 after going unsolved Saturday, when tickets with four of five winners returned $120.10.
There will also be a carryover of $1,125 in the Super Hi-5 in Sunday’s opener.
Notes: Trainer Jonathaniel Badillo earned his first career victory in Saturday’s fifth race with 4-year-old Pep Talking ($13), a horse he claimed out of its last start who was ridden by J.D. Acosta. The Maryland-bred gelding won the one-mile beaten claiming event in 1:41.58 … In addition to McCarthy, apprentice jockey Charlie Marquez, 16, posted a riding double Saturday aboard Cort’n Asong ($15.40) in Race 4 and Always Something ($25.40) in Race 8.
