LAUREL, MD. 02-02-13---Sagamore Farm’s Walkwithapurpose overcame a stumbling start, recovered and when asked for her best, powered by the leaders to a register a widening victory in the $125,000 Wide Country Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

Jeremy Rose is now four-for-four aboard the daughter of Candy Ride (ARG). Rose picked up the mount after her debut at Timonium and has guided her to consecutive tallies at Laurel Park, her maiden win (October 3), an allowance victory (November 16) and two stakes triumphs. Walkwithapurpose won the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship on New Year’s Eve in her race prior to this start.

Today, Walkwithapurpose almost went to her knees at the start and after bouncing off her nearest rivals, settled into stride. Rose had her tracking the speed before he sent her after the leaders to sweep by and take the lead racing into the home stretch. She drew away, winning by 4-3/4 lengths over Power Lady. Dear to All finished third.

“Today she showed how good she is,” said Rose. “Nothing went her way today. The seven (Power Lady) was the one that got away the best, the easiest. I felt if we moved at the right time we could beat her. She never even got her correct lead until after the finish line when she took off. Nearly going on her head at the break, running on the wrong lead and not being where we wanted to be and she still dominated the field. She is a nice horse.”

Ignacio Correas trains Walkwithapurpose. He indicated his star would run next in the $150,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes at Laurel. The one-mile test will be contested on March 2. His ultimate goal is the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course on May 17.

“She loves this racetrack,” Correas said. “She is a Maryland-bred, we are a Maryland operation and I see no reason why to take her out of town until there isn’t a race for her here. There is no reason to look for trouble somewhere else.”

The winner completed the seven furlong distance in 1:27.04 and paid $5.40 as the post time favorite. 
 

MCMAHON CELEBRATES 45^TH BIRTHDAY WITH VICTORY

Hugh McMahon celebrated his 45th birthday with his 17th victory of the Laurel Park winter meet when Vicarious Won ($3.20) won the third race. In the first 19 days of stand, McMahon has 17 victories in 39 starts with 33 in the money finishes. The longtime assistant to Scott Lake ranks fourth in North America with 20 victories.

“When I was working for Scott and I was saddling 10 horses a day and knocking out three or four wins, (now retired trainer) Eddie Gaudet came up to me and asked how we were doing it. I took my hands out of my pocket and put them together and said ‘it is a lot of this’ (praying),” McMahon said.  “Last year Dane Kobiskie was winning races at this rate. There is no rhyme or reason to it and it has an expiration date, so you have to enjoy it while you can.”

McMahon leads Lake by 10 victories in the local standings.

Sheldon Russell rode three winners Saturday afternoon to regain the lead in the riders standings. The 25-year old scored aboard Azicharmyou ($14.60-4^th), Seven Stars ($3.60-6^th) and Sweet Maxine ($30-7^th). He now has 21 trips to the winners’ circle, one more than apprentice Yomar Ortiz.
 

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.