CONCEALED IDENTITY NOT A SECRET AFTER MARYLAND JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE
LAUREL, MD. 12-18-10---Christmas came early to Linda Gaudet and Morris Bailey as Concealed Identity, their 2-year-old Smarty Jones gelding, was the surprise winner of the $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship, the feature offering on closing day of the fall meeting at Laurel Park.
Away alertly in the 7-1/2 furlong test, Concealed Identity and J.D. Acosta were content to back off pacesetters Gaelic Partner and odds-on favorite Steady Warrior as the field raced down the backstretch. All five runners bunched up on the far turn before Concealed Identity and Steady Warrior edged away and were set down for the drive.
A furlong from the wire Concealed Identity separated from the favorite and continued on to win by 3-1/2 lengths, while stopping the clock in 1:32.12. Broad Rule rallied to take second and Go Marie Tu came up the rail to finish third. Steady Warrior, the 4-5 betting choice, finished with little encouragement and was fourth causing huge show prices.
The winner, who is trained by Eddie Gaudet, paid $17.40 to win, $7 to place and $38 to show. Broad Rule paid $4.60 to place and $22.80 to show. Go Marie Tu paid $31.80 to show.
“I didn’t really want to send but he really broke sharp,” said Acosta. “I just tried to hold him a little bit, not too much. When I saw Dunkelberger (Travis Dunkelberger on Steady Warrior) making the move I tried to make the move before him. Once I hit him left handed he took off, he hit another gear, that really helped big time.”
Concealed Identity is now two-for-three lifetime with earnings of $46,860.
“Other than Steady Warrior there didn’t seem to be too much in here,” Gaudet said. “He was training well leading up to this spot, so we took the chance. I don’t think we’ll win the Derby but he is nice and does everything right. I think he’ll be able to handle tougher company. He had a little tough luck, losing an eye rolling in the stall. We had to baby him along and he shied away from things but right now he’s really getting himself together.”
The 80-year-old conditioner is now a perfect two-for-two in the Maryland Juvenile Championship, winning in 1987 with Trap Line.
BOYCE & GROVE CAPTURE YEAR-ROUND TITLES
Maryland natives Forest Boyce and Chris Grove wrapped up year-end titles at the major Maryland tracks for the calendar year in the jockey and trainer divisions respectively after today’s final card of the season at Laurel Park.
Despite riding only 18 winners during the first two meets of the season, Boyce won her first riding championship in the state with 104 victories at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course during 2010. The 26-year-old won the riding title for the Laurel fall meeting with 71 scores where she had 23 multiple win days, including a career-best four trips to the winners’ circle on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16. Erick Rodriguez finished second in the overall standings with 99 first place finishes.
“It is absolutely amazing,” said Boyce, who also won the riding title during the Laurel summer meet.
A graduate of Garrison Forest School and the Maryland Institute College of Art, Boyce spent the majority of the year as an apprentice and credits her support system, including agent Jay “Shug” Burtis, for much of the success. She began working for the late conditioner Mikey Smithwick at the age of 11 and galloped horses for trainer Dickie Small before making her professional debut in the summer of 2009. Former riders Mario Verge and Jimbo Bracciale serve as mentors.
“I have a terrific support system,” added Boyce. “The guys in the room have been really helpful as well, especially Mario Pino, Harry Vega and Erick Rodriguez. I also have to thank all the trainers that we were able to ride for, Dickie, Ferris Allen, Hammy Smith and Alex White. You need to be on the right horses to win races.”
Grove, a Frederick native, saddled 57 winners at the major Maryland tracks during the campaign, four more than Scott Lake, who had won five straight training titles in the state. The Grove barn captured the Laurel winter and Laurel summer titles. The 41-year-old won the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie and General George Handicaps at Laurel Park on Feb. 15 with Sweet Goodbye and Greenspring and saddled four consecutive winners at Laurel on Aug. 14.
“Those two and when Silmaril beat Ashado (2005 Grade 3 Pimlico Distaff) are the three biggest days of my career,” said Grove, who ranks in the top 50 nationally with a career-best 95 victories and $2.1 million in earnings so far this year. “This is a nice accomplishment for the entire barn and it was helped by Lake re-routing his horses out of the state but we there to pick up the pieces. I don’t know what is going to transpire for 2011 and beyond but I want to continue racing in Maryland. This is home.”
Dickie Small and John Rigattieri shared the Laurel Park fall training title, each visiting the winners’ circle 18 times during the 57-day stand. Hamilton Smith and Ferris Allen finished one back.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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