Adore the Gold wins easily

Adore the Gold ($3.60) was much the best in the $85,000 H. Steward Mitchell for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.

Ridden by Joe Rocco for trainer Mike Gorham, Adore the Gold won for the third time in four starts, drawing away in the stretch to a four-length victory over the previously unbeaten Cahill's Touch.

Crafty Bear was another 4 3/4 lengths back in third.

Owned by John Murphy Sr., Adore the Gold previously won the $100,000 Dover at Delaware Park.

The winning time for seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:24.59.

Adore the Gold faced some pressure going down the backstretch from Tricky's Tick Tock, but opened up a clear lead approaching the turn and widened his advantage coming through the stretch.

"This colt is the best young horse I have ever sat on," said Rocco, who has ridden more than 3,500 winners in his career. "And I have been on some pretty decent horses. I worked him in company before we won the stake at Delaware. One horse was in front and the other three behind. I was supposed to be five behind the second horse but ended up ten back. When he went he blew by them and galloped out in 1:11 and change for three-quarters. I couldn't believe he was a baby. He is very impressive."