LAUREL, MD. 01-25-14---Commonwealth New Era Racing’s Taris quickly dispensed of Jonesin for Jerry and sped away to an easy victory in the $100,000 Wide Country Stakes for three-year-old fillies, the first of four stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park.

Away from the gate at odds of 1-5 under Clinton Potts, Taris beat Steady N Love by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:24.71 for the seven-furlong distance for trainer Todd Beattie.

“It was a pretty simple race today,” Potts said. “I had some pressure early in the race and I was a little concerned because the track was deep but this horse handles everything right. Todd deserves great credit for getting this horse ready because she does everything just like an older horse. Her career is definitely going to go far.”

The daughter of Flatter was an impressive 11-3/4 length winner in her debut at Aqueduct on December 21.

“She just continues to impress me,” Beattie said. “I’m going to go south with her and try to avoid this cold weather, freshen her up a little bit at my sister Holly’s farm in Ocala. The logical spot to run her back would be the one turn mile here on March 8 (Caesar’s Wish Stakes) but we’ll have to see how the weather and all plays out. I love to run in this region. I’m stabled at Penn year round and I like the way I get treated when I come down here but I have the option in Florida to stay there and run in the Honeybee on the same day.”

Taris paid $2.40.
 

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.