Two Notch Road Aims for Knockout in $60,000 Punch Line
Two Notch Road Aims for Knockout in $60,000 Punch Line
Away We Go Tops Field of 11 in $60,000 Oakley
Eleven Juveniles Share Spotlight in $60,000 Jamestown
LAUREL, MD – Three weeks after coming within a half-length of his first graded stakes victory, 9-year-old gelding Two Notch Road has his sights set on a third straight win in the $60,000 Punch Line Stakes Saturday at Laurel Park.
The Punch Line for 3-year-olds and up is one of five supporting turf stakes restricted to Virginia-bred/sired horses on the 11-race Commonwealth Day program, and one of three contested at 5 ½ furlongs along with the $60,000 Oakley for females 3 and up and the $60,000 Jamestown for 2-year-olds.
Joining them on the card are the $60,000 Bert Allen and $60,000 Brookmeade, both at 1 1/16 miles. Rounding out the stakes program are the $200,000 Commonwealth Turf Cup (G2), $200,000 Commonwealth Derby (G2) and $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks (G3).
Two Notch Road owns six wins and $465,503 in purse earnings from 34 lifetime starts as half of trainer and co-owner Glenn Thompson’s two-horse stable. Three of his victories have come in Maryland stakes: the 2014 and 2015 Punch Line and the five-furlong White Oak Farm, also for Virginia-bred/sired horses, June 25 at historic Pimlico Race Course.
“It’s been a good spot for him. He definitely likes Virginia-breds, that’s for sure,” Thompson said. “He’s also come into the race at the right time, feeling good. I think the same is the case for Saturday.”
In his most recent effort, Two Notch Road broke slowly and raced at the back of a 10-horse field for a half-mile before closing with a flourish on the far outside to finish second in the five-furlong Turf Monster (G3) Sept. 5 at Parx.
“He ran a really good race. He was training really well going into it and I felt really confident about how he was going to do. Watching the race, down the backside he was kind of climbing a little bit and I didn’t like the way he was looking there for a while,” Thompson said. “I didn’t like the way he was traveling and I don’t think he liked the turf course very much. He ended up going wide but I actually think it helped him because he got out to probably on the best part of the course and really ran hard. I was really proud of him.”
Daniel Centeno, aboard in the Turf Monster, gets the return call from outside post 7 at topweight of 120 pounds in the Punch Line, a race won the previous two years under Julian Pimentel. Thompson credited both for their success on Two Notch Road.
“I only have two horses and when you have a small stable you’re always scrambling for riders,” he said. “I think a lot of it is having a good rider that fits him really well. I think Danny and Julian are both a good fit for Two Notch.”
Following the White Oak Farm, Two Notch Road finished second by 1 ¾ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance at Laurel July 23 and was entered but unable to get into another race until the Turf Monster.
“He’s a very challenging horse. He’s just a very good-feeling, happy horse. He’s very animated. He does not act like he’s 9. He acts like a 2-year-old or a 3-year-old,” Thompson said. “He and I have a love-hate relationship. He drives me crazy because I’m always afraid he’s going to hurt himself. He’s always doing goofy stuff. As a trainer, you’re kind of holding your breath with a horse like him but I wouldn’t trade him for anybody. He’s been a really, really good horse for me.”
Susan S. Cooney homebred Made Bail, second by a length to Two Notch Road last year, takes another shot at the favorite in the Punch Line. The 4-year-old Closing Argument gelding last won April 10 in a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint at Laurel and was fourth, beaten 1 ½ lengths, in the White Oak Farm. Sheldon Russell has the call from the rail.
Moon River and Available, second and third respectively, in the White Oak Farm; Tiz Unbeatable, Cliffs of Malibu and Early Grey round out the field.
Away We Go Tops Field of 11 in $60,000 Oakley
Nicewonder Stable’s Away We Go, a neck winner of the Jamestown Stakes for 2-year-olds last fall, returns to Laurel to seek his first victory since in the $60,000 Oakley.
Trained by Rodney Jenkins, the 3-year-old Tizway filly has finished no better than fourth in four subsequent starts, all against older horses. She cuts back to a turf sprint for the first time since her season opener April 10 at Laurel where she was sixth, beaten just 3 ¼ lengths.
Victor Carrasco has the call for the first time from outside post 11 at co-low weight of 114 pounds.
Sam E. English II’s homebred Awake the Day returns after being disqualified from third to last for interference early in the 2015 Oakley. Hooligan, also entered in the $60,000 Brookmeade for females 3 and up at 1 1/16 miles earlier in the card, has run four times this year since being placed fifth in last year’s Oakley.
Completing the field are Rapid Rhythm, Callipepla, For Finery, Tiz Our Time, Trish’s Wish, Ring Knocker, Grace Is Ready and Found.
Eleven Juveniles Share Spotlight in $60,000 Jamestown
C B Bodemester, Galaxy Express and Lime House Louie will attempt to parlay maiden victories into stakes success in the $60,000 Jamestown for 2-year-olds.
After two failed attempts earlier this summer at Laurel, Charles Biggs’ C B Bodemester graduated with a 2 ½-length score in a one-mile maiden special weight Sept. 2 at Timonium. Trained by Cal Lynch, the Bodemeister colt will be making his first start on turf from post 1 with Xavier Perez, who was up for the maiden victory.
Lady Olivia Northcliff’s Galaxy Express made his first two starts at Delaware Park, including a front-running eight-length triumph July 27 at the Jamestown distance. The effort earned him a chance in the Laurel Futurity Sept. 10, where he was never in contention after bobbling at the start and wound up fifth.
The only other horse in the field of 11 with a previous victory is Wildcat Stable’s Lime House Louie, a 1 ¼-length winner of his debut July 23 going 4 ½ furlongs on dirt at Charles Town. He also exits the Laurel Futurity, where he ran into traffic trouble at the half-mile pole land finished fourth.
Also entered are Hold Me Black, Brainchild, Skipalong, Zenbennie, Virginia Envy and first-time starters Speed Gracer, Lil Marshmallow and In Bella’s Honor.
