LAUREL, MD. 02-28-13---Multiple stakes winner Walkwithapurpose has been installed as the even-money favorite to win Saturday’s feature at Laurel Park, the one mile, $150,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Walkwithapurpose has won four consecutive races, including the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel. Owned by Sagamore Farm, the daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) is trained by Ignacio Correas. Jeremy Rose has been her pilot during the winning streak.

“She is exactly where we want her to be at this point,” Correas said. “We feel she is really talented and has continued to step up every time she runs. She has done things so easy and has already won at the distance. We are looking forward to the next step in her career and hopefully she delivers Saturday.”

Correas indicated he would likely use the Twixt Stakes on April 6 at Pimlico Race Course for Maryland-breds as Walkwithapurpose’s prep race for the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on May 17.

Correas also entered Listen Boy (20-1), a winner of one race in five starts. Horacio Karamanos was aboard for her maiden win and regains the mount.

“She is better on the grass though I do think you can draw a line through her last two races,” added Correas. “She didn’t like the mud at all (December 29) and then stumbled two jumps out of the gate last month (January 19).”

A maiden win and an optional claiming victory give Seven Stars (4-1) a record of two wins, a second and a third in four starts. This will be the first stakes attempt for the Tony Dutrow trainee. Sheldon Russell will ride.

After breaking her maiden and beating allowance company, Sense Of Reality (5-1) had a troubled trip against Walkwithapurpose in the Wide Country, finishing fifth. She will try to regroup under Edwin Rivera for trainer Patricia Farro.

Jose Corrales trains Purple Plum (6-1), a winner against $25,000 maidens and a runner-up against optional claimers in her two lifetime starts. Marco Ccamaque is her regular rider.

Hailey’s Star (8-1) is riding a two-win streak against optional claiming company. Hugh McMahon conditions the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. No rider is named.

Ek Haseena (12-1) led at the half-way point in the Wide Country, fading at the end to finish fourth. Before that she put up runner-up finishes in the Smart Halo and Gin Talking Stakes. Frannie Campitelli trains the Songandaprayer filly. Alex Cintron picks up the mount.
 

RIDER STANDINGS HEATING UP WITH ONE MONTH REMAINING IN MEET

The back and forth battle between apprentice riders Yomar Ortiz and Trevor McCarthy was on center stage Thursday afternoon. Ortiz began the day with a one-win lead in the Laurel Park rider standings but McCarthy tied him and then took the lead with back-to-back scores in the second and third races with Granted Ruler ($10.40) and Dear Rachel ($3.80), respectively.

Ortiz then captured the fourth and fifth races, aboard Stolen Chevy ($2.60) and Gagne ($10), to regain the lead with 39 victories.

The Laurel winter meet ends Saturday, March 30.

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.