Multiple Graded-Stakes Winner Something Awesome Entered Friday

LAUREL, MD – An early arrival of winter forced the cancellation of Thursday’s nine-race program at Laurel Park.

Horses were at the gate for the first race when the decision was made to cancel racing due to deteriorating weather conditions from Winter Storm Avery.

Early morning snow turned to sleet and freezing rain by afternoon with temperatures in the mid-30s and a wind chill in the mid-20s. The forecast called for a 100 percent chance of rain into Friday.

“The weather turned worse as the day went on with the sleet and ice, and with the safety of our horses and horsemen in mind, we felt it was in everyone’s best interests to cancel,” Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra said.

All wagers from races 1 through 9 were refunded. Laurel will remain open for simulcasting including its planned seven-race LARC simulcast from Monterrico, Peru which has a scheduled post time of 5 p.m.

Live racing is scheduled to return to Laurel with a nine-race program Friday, Nov. 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Multiple Graded-Stakes Winner Something Awesome Entered Friday

Stronach Stable’s millionaire homebred Something Awesome is entered to begin his comeback as the 7-5 program favorite in Friday’s third race, an open $55,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs on the main track.

Unraced since finishing last as the favorite in the Pimlico Special (G3) May 18 at legendary Pimlico Race Course, 7-year-old Something Awesome will have his regular rider, Hall of Famer Edgar Prado, aboard from drew Post 3 in the field of six.

A winner of five of six starts since joining trainer Jose Corrales last fall, Something Awesome took a three-race win streak – all in stakes – into the Pimlico Special. He won the seven-furlong General George (G3) and Harrison E. Johnson Memorial at Laurel as well as the Charles Town Classic (G2), the latter two at 1 1/8 miles.

Something Awesome drew Post 12 in the 1 1/8-mile Richard W. Small Stakes Nov. 10 at Laurel, but was scratched. The race was won by his stablemate, Unbridled Juan.

Also entered are 2017 Iselin (G3) winner Just Call Kenny; multiple stakes winner and 125-pound topweight Sonny Inspired; Maryland Coalition Stakes winner Colonel Sharp; Irish Colonel, fourth in the May 19 Maryland Sprint (G3); and Glory Stars.