THE LUMBER MAN HEADLINES SATURDAY’S MIRACLE WOOD STAKES
LAUREL, MD. 02-24-12---The numbers jump off the page on The Lumber Man, the 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. The 7-furlong test drew a field of nine colts and geldings.
The Lumber Guy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 in his only start, a maiden win at Aqueduct last month for trainer Michael Hushion. The son of Grand Slam showed early speed against restricted company before drawing off to a 9-1/4 length victory. Julian Pimentel gets his first chance on the colt.
Graham Motion will counter with Friscan (5-2), a son of Two Punch who finished third in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs last summer while in Al Stall’s barn. Friscan romped over optional/claiming company here late last month at 5-1/2 furlongs for his new connections.
“He did that very nicely and this is a natural progression to go a little further,” said Motion, who has runners entered at five different tracks tomorrow afternoon. “Two Punch is one of my favorite sires. His offspring are often very competitive and he falls right into that category.”
Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount on Friscan, one of six Triple Crown nominees from Maryland this year.
Brimstone Island (6-1) was claimed out of his most recent start, an 11-1/4 length victory at Laurel on February 1, by owner-trainer Billy Campbell. The son of Tiznow beat $16,000 runners to notch his fourth win in six starts. Xavier Perez is his new rider.
Linda Gaudet will start Rocky Gap (8-1), who has finished off the board in two stakes attempts. The daughter of Rockport Harbor was steadied in his prep for the Miracle Wood but still managed to finish second. Forest Boyce regains the mount.
Romp City (10-1) left the maiden ranks in his most recent try at 7-furlongs. Based at Parx Racing, the Cathal Lynch trainee sports a record of 1-1-2 in four starts. Oliver Castillo will ride.
Tim Tullock trains Mr. Handsome (12-1), a maiden winner at Penn National who has started four times at Laurel. Malcolm Franklin is his rider.
Pass You Bye Bye (15-1), Runnin Bull (20-1) and Bear’s Delite (30-1) complete the lineup.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
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