LIVE RACING RETURNS TO LAUREL PARK SATURDAY
LAUREL, MD. 09-09-10---Live racing returns to Laurel Park Saturday for the fall meeting with a 10-race card, which includes the Geisha Stakes and an all-turf Pick 3 to end the program. Opening day features free admission, an open house with live music and a BBQ on the apron, wine and appetizers in the clubhouse and foosball and air hockey in the Horse Wizard Room. First post is 1:10 p.m.
The 57-day stand will feature live racing on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons (with Columbus holiday exception) through Dec. 18. All the Saturday programs in September will feature live music. Promotions include Racing 101 (Sept. 18), Novice Handicapping tournament (Sept. 25), Diva Day (Oct. 16), Oktoberfest (Oct. 23) and Halloween costume contest (Oct. 30).
The meet includes 19 stakes races worth $1.45 million, headlined by the 25th running of the Jim McKay Maryland Million on Saturday, Oct. 2. Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million is a program for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions. Maryland-sired thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. Twenty times attendance figures have topped 20,000 for the event. Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the concept and remained Chairman of the Board until his death two years ago.
Maryland-bred fillies and mares do battle in Saturday’s feature, the $50,000 Geisha Stakes. Five runners will race one mile on the main track. The 7-5 morning line favorite is Love’s Blush.
Trained by Rodney Jenkins, Love’s Blush won the All Brandy Stakes last year and finished second in both the Maryland Racing Media Handicap and the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct this year. The daughter of Not For Love raced only once this summer, showing speed before fading in an optional claimer here in mid-August. Travis Dunkelberger has the mount.
“With enough speed in front of her I think she’ll run good,” said Jenkins, who is winning at a 29% clip this year. “We have had a good year and I have some nice two-year-olds in the barn. I hope they hold together and continue to improve.”
Blind Date (9-5) was outstanding last year, capturing four stakes but the Not For Love offspring has not visited the winners’ circle since winning the Pearl Necklace Stakes at Laurel last August. She has yet to hit the board in four stakes attempts this year, finishing a sluggish seventh in the Jameela Stakes as the favorite in her latest try. Sheldon Russell rides for trainer Hamilton Smith.
Fascinatin’ Rhythm (5-2) regained the promise she had demonstrated early in her career when she captured the Jameela Stakes during Laurel’s summer meeting. Trainer Dickie Small returns the daughter of More Than Ready to the main track where she has finished in the money 13 times in 20 tries. Forest Boyce has the riding assignment.
Sterling Vow (10-1) was the surprise winner of the Squan Song Stakes at Laurel last December. She has started only twice this year but has posted three bullet workouts since her most recent start. Oscar Mancilla rides for trainer Ron Sweeney.
Completing the field is longshot Ysabell T. (20-1), a maiden winner who spent the summer running against claiming company on the turf.
-mjc-
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
This e-mail, and any documents or data attached hereto, is intended for the intended recipients only. It may contain confidential and/or privileged information and no rights have been waived by the sender. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby NOTIFIED that any dissemination, distribution, retention, archiving or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me at the telephone number shown above or by return mail and delete this communication and any copy immediately. MID provides no assurances that this e-mail and its attachments are virus free; you are responsible for scanning all e-mails and attachments for viruses. MID disclaims all liability for damages caused by any virus which may be transmitted by this email. Thank you.
