Laurel-Based Laki Chasing Second Straight MATCH Series Title
Trainer Motion Back for More Week After Winning Three Stakes
Saturday’s Stakes-Filled Card Includes Ciders & Seltzers On the Rail

LAUREL, MD – Being unable to attend the first graded-stakes win by one of his own horses in more than four years didn’t make the accomplishment any less exciting for trainer John Terranova.

Terranova and his wife and assistant, Tonja, were about 900 miles away from Laurel Park in Wisconsin, visiting their eldest daughter, Paulina, a college freshman, as Killybegs Captain captured the $250,000 Xpressbet Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) in one of its fastest editions ever.

It was the first career graded score for Killybegs Captain, who had been Grade 1 and Grade 2-placed this summer and upset Imperial Hint to win the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter. It was Terranova’s first since El Kabeir swept the Jerome and Gotham respectively in January and March of 2015.

“We couldn’t be there but we were able to watch it. We were thrilled to win,” Terranova said. “I’m glad it worked out and we were able to ship down. Everybody did a great job, and he was doing really well.”

Long-time friends with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert dating back to time spent in California, the Terranovas have made their New York-based stable a home away from home for such horses as Triple Crown champions American Pharoah and Justify.

Killybegs Captain, meanwhile, had rarely ventured outside of New York, making 19 of his 24 starts in the Empire State including a third in both the John A. Nerud (G2) July 6 at Belmont and Forego (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga.

“We took on Grade 1 horses up in Saratoga in his previous start, and we were looking for a spot that maybe he’d have a little bit better shot of winning,” Terranova said. “He always seems to show up. He’s been really consistent this year and held his form, and just gotten to a different level.”

In the De Francis, Killybegs Captain was unhurried early but moved into contention on the turn, took command at the eighth pole and drew off to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:08.10 for six furlongs – the fastest De Francis since Richter Scale set the track record of 1:07.95 winning the race in 2000.

“He’s perfect. He’s so easy and versatile. He’s got speed, but he can sit back off horses and finish, whatever it takes. Inside or outside, he’s been pretty versatile in that way. He’s just a fun horse to have, and we feel fortunate that we have him and that he’s healthy,” Terranova said. “He looks great. He came out of the race really well, happy, healthy sound, and already back to the track and feeling good.”

Killybegs Captain is likely to stay in New York for his next start, possibly in the seven-furlong Bold Ruler (G3) Oct. 26 at Belmont.

“We’ll probably take a look at it,” Terranova said. “It’s kind of uncertain. We’ll get on a couple weeks from now and figure out what he tells us. Logically, that could be the spot.”

Laurel-Based Laki Chasing Second Straight MATCH Series Title

Hillside Equestrian Meadows’ multiple graded-stakes placed Laki, based at Laurel Park with trainer Damon Dilodovico, is poised to clinch his second straight division title in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series this weekend.

Laki is second choice in the program at 3-1 for Saturday’s Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park, the fifth and final leg of the MATCH Series’ 3-year-old and up dirt sprint division. The 6-year-old gelding launched defense of his 2018 crown by winning the Frank Whiteley Jr. April 20, his fourth career stakes triumph, all at Laurel.

Second in the 2018 Frank J. De Francis Dash (G3) and third in the 2019 General George (G3), Laki followed up in MATCH Series races by running fourth in the Chocolate Town Sprint June 1 at Penn National and third in the Sept. 2 Bensalem at Parx. Dilodovico opted to skip the July 13 Hockessin, which came shortly after an outbreak of strangles at Delaware Park.

Laki leads the division with 18 points, followed by Midtowncharlybrown (11), Midnightcharly (8) and Home Run Maker (4) – none of which are among the Mr. Prospector’s eight-horse field.

“He’ll get some bonus points for it being his fourth race in the series, and I think the bonus points might be enough to seal the win,” Dilodovico said. “He’s been awesome. He missed the race at Delaware and he just had a horribly unlucky trip at Penn National, otherwise I feel we may have been in contention for the whole thing. But, it wasn’t meant to be and I’m happy with where we are. We’ll see how it goes.”

Ms. Locust Point leads the overall standings with 31 points, followed by Bronx Beauty (25), Dynatail (20) and Laki and Abiding Star (17). The MATCH Series, which originated with a five-year run starting in 1997 and was revived in 2018, offered $2 million in purses and more than $400,000 in bonus money for 2019.

Trainer Motion Back for More Week After Winning Three Stakes

A week after winning three stakes during Round 1 of Laurel Park’s September to Remember Stakes Festival, trainer Graham Motion returns for Round 2 with contenders in three of the six stakes worth $600,000 in purses.

Motion will send out Grade 3 winner Colonia in the $150,000 Fasig-Tipton All Along, the pair of Nakamura and Zapperini in the $100,000 Japan Turf Cup, and Robin Hood in the $75,000 Challedon.

On Sept. 21, Motion swept Round 1’s 1 1/16-mile juvenile turf stakes, the Fasig-Tipton Laurel Futurity and Selima with Irish Mias and Sharing, respectively. Both races saw their purses doubled for 2019 to $200,000.

Motion also saw He’s No Lemon finish second but get promoted to first following the disqualification of Jais’s Solitude for interference in the $150,000 Bald Eagle Derby, presented by B & B Commercial Interiors.

“It was a very rewarding weekend, obviously,” Motion said. “I felt like we had live chances going into it, but that doesn’t always materialize.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable’s Sharing went off as the 1-2 favorite in a field of seven and won by 2 ½ lengths in 1:42.61.

“Honestly, I would have been disappointed if she hadn’t won. She’ll go to the Breeders’ Cup, all being well,” Motion said. “She seemed to come out of it fine, and credit to Laurel for putting up the money which has made it a Breeders’ Cup prep.”

A maiden going in, Irish Mias was a gutsy head winner over Motion-trained stablemate Torres Del Paine in the Futurity, a race with a rich history of winners including Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation and Secretariat.

“He’s not Breeders’ Cup-nominated. I would think he could come back in a stake at Belmont around Breeders’ Cup weekend,” Motion said. “I’ve always liked this horse. We got a little off track at Saratoga because when his first race came off the grass and he ran so well, we chose to go back on the dirt. I’ve always thought he was a better grass horse. He breezes better on the synthetic. I think he’s a really nice colt. Maybe it’ll be a blessing in disguise that he’s not Breeders’ Cup eligible.”

He’s No Lemon was awarded the Bald Eagle Derby win when Jais’s Solitude, first to the wire by 1 ¼ lengths, was taken down and put fifth behind Zonda, after coming in on that rival in the stretch. It was the second straight win in his stakes debut.

“I don’t think he’s done much wrong since we gelded him and gave him a little break. He’s come back in these longer races and now I’m going to give him some time,” Motion said. “There’s not much left for these 3-year-olds going longer until the very end of the year. I’d like to take advantage of that. I think he can be a really fun horse next year.”

Motion also saw Skeedattle Stable’s multiple graded-stakes winner Just Howard run fifth – beaten a length – in the $200,000 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3). Caribou Club won by a head in track-record time, while Just Howard was a neck and a nose out of third.

“I think he ran his usual race. They ran really fast and he’s always right there,” Motion said. “He wasn’t beaten by very much and he probably didn’t have a perfect trip inside the sixteenth pole once again. He’s a very consistent horse and he always holds his own. He really has been unlucky. Maybe we’ll run him one more time then give him a freshening and have him geared up for the spring.”

Saturday’s Stakes-Filled Card Includes Ciders & Seltzers On the Rail

In addition to a card of six stakes worth $600,000 in purses during Round 2 of its September to Remember Stakes Festival, Laurel Park will serve up another installment of its On the Rail Series.

Ciders & Seltzers On the Rail will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. in a garden party tent on the track apron. Tickets are $28 for general admission and $40 for a VIP upgrade that includes a snack box.

All tickets include six cider/seltzer tastings, a souvenir cider glass, live racing program, special tip sheet and access to the tent. Apple cider cocktails will also be available for $3.

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Round 2 of the September to Remember Stakes Festival is headlined by the $150,000 Fasig-Tipton All Along for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles over Laurel’s world-class turf course. It is joined on the grass by the $100,000 Japan Turf Cup, $100,000 Howard County and $100,000 Anne Arundel County and a pair of $75,000 dirt sprints, the Challedon and Shine Again for non-winners of a sweepstakes.