Added distance could make difference in Private Terms, Caesar's Wish

The Private Terms and Caesar’s Wish, 3-year-old stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, aren’t long on numbers but have quite a bit of depth. Tight finishes seem more likely than blowouts.

The obvious choices are Marengo Road in the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms and Great Soul in the one-turn-mile Caesar’s Wish for fillies. Both won in the cold and snow on General George Day, Feb. 15, when Marengo Road held off the late-surging Charmed Victory to take the one-mile Miracle Wood and Great Soul inched away from Prognosis to win the seven-furlong Wide Country.

Charmed Victory in the Private Terms and Prognosis in the Caesar’s Wish are back for this next leg of Maryland’s 3-year-old series, and the added distance Saturday could work in the favor of each.

Prognosis, a daughter of Tiznow, has sold twice in Keeneland sales. She brought $150,000 in the 2014 September sale, then, after winning a maiden race at Ellis Park last September and an allowance at Keeneland in the fall, was purchased for $190,000 out of the November breeding stock sale by Russell B. Jones Jr. She is now conditioned by Tim Woolley, a former steeplechase rider in his native England, who has been based at the Fair Hill Training Center since 1995.

“I’ve not had many Tiznows, but I’m told she is typical of them.” Woolley said. “She’s a big, rangy filly, the kind of horse we hope will improve with age. I think the further the distance, the better she’ll be.”

In the Wide Country, Prognosis was sitting off the pace three wide when she was joined from the outside by 4-5 favorite Karen’s Silk on the turn. Prognosis, ridden by Horacio Karamanos, got the better of that battle in upper stretch, then was taken on from the inside by Great Soul, who proved best by a half-length.

“I thought she ran well off a two-month layoff,” Woolley said. “She had to move a little early when that filly came up outside of her. Karamanos told me she never got a break.”

Great Soul is now 2 for 3 for trainer Tim Keefe. She had a less-than-perfect trip in the Wide Country and had to await racing room on the turn and into the stretch before moving to the inside for the stretch run.

Sophia’s Song will be making her first start for Todd Pletcher after winning an optional race at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 30 for trainer Sid Attard.

In the Navy Now was a fast-closing second to Great Soul in a Dec. 31 maiden race, then came back to win by 6 3/4 lengths. Include a Check was second to In the Navy Now and has since won a $40,000 maiden-claiming race and finished second in a Parx allowance on Feb. 29.

The Private Terms offers a widely anticipated rematch between Marengo Road and Charmed Victory.

Marengo Road, trained by Mike Trombetta, has tactical speed and is well drawn in post 1. He should be able to save ground on the first turn while tracking expected pacesetter Abiding Star.

Charmed Victory, trained by Rodney Jenkins, was clearly best while winning his first two starts but was facing tougher company when second by three-quarters of a length in the Miracle Wood. He was getting to the more-seasoned Marengo Road at the wire and may move forward with that race under his belt.

Flash McCaul, also trained by Trombetta, enters off a sharp first-level optional win.

Let Me Go First finished a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 3 Jerome at Aqueduct after being reluctant to load into the gate. Trainer Blane Servis equips him with blinkers Saturday, and he deserves consideration at an overlooked price.