Armando R nips Ournationonparade in Richard W. Small Stakes

Armando R rallied down the center of the course on Saturday to nip favored Ournationonparade in Laurel Park’s Richard W. Small Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles.

The Richard W. Small was one of three $100,000 stakes on Saturday with the Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs and the City of Laurel for 3-year-olds, also at seven furlongs.

Odds-on favorite Ournationonparade broke best from the inside post, but conceded the lead to Thomas Shelby, who was ridden aggressively to make the front on the first turn.

Thomas Shelby doled out fractions of 24.16 and 47.88 seconds while tracked by Ournationonparade. Meanwhile, late-running Armando R settled into a nice spot in the middle of the pack under jockey Horacio Karamanos

Ournationbyparade confronted Thomas Shelby after six furlongs in 1:12.21 and was soon in front. At this juncture, Karamanos put Armando R to an all-out drive, and they swung four wide outside Cordmaker.

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Ournationonparade still had the lead at the eighth pole, but Armando R’s strong stamina was just kicking into gear. Armando R surged past the favorite under the line to win by a half-length in 1:50.57. He returned $23 as the fifth choice in the wagering.

Cordmaker finished another length back in third. In doing so, the 8-year-old became racing’s latest millionaire. Next up were Thomas Shelby, Forewarned, American d’Oro and a slow-starting Wish for Peace. Ridin With Biden and Treasure Trove scratched.

“I was just so worried about the lack of early pace,” trainer Damon Dilodovico said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. “Horacio was in tune with everything. He had him closer than I was expecting him to be and was able to stay in contention.”

A gelded son of Blame, Armando R was bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill LLC and owned by Ronald Cuneo. His second dam, Ms Brookski, was a Grade 2 stakes winner.

Armando R has won three of his last four starts including the off-turf Japan Turf Cup at 1 1/4 miles over sloppy going on Oct. 1. Overall, Armando R has won 7 times from 24 starts for lifetime earnings of $318,120. He has captured half of his 10 lifetime races at Laurel.

*City of Laurel

Little Vic benefitted from a beautiful ride from Carlos Olivero to take the City of Laurel for trainer Juan Avila.

Normally a speed horse, Little Vic ($12.40) was outsprinted for the early lead by Defend, Uncle Buddy and Cynergy’s Star. Those three contested a solid opening quarter of 22.41 seconds while Olivero dropped Little Vic into the pocket behind them.

Defend was the first to back away from the inside and Olivero maneuvered Little Vic outside that horse to split rivals on the turn.

Uncle Buddy and Cynergy’s Star were joined from the outside by Al Loves Josie following a half-mile clocking of 45.34, but Olivero spied an inviting opening along the fence and steered Little Vic inside.

Little Vic shot on through to grab the lead and kept finding more in the stretch to deny late-running favorite Radical Right by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:23.53 seconds. Al Loves Josie finished third, a neck behind the runner-up. Then came Nimitz Class, Uncle Buddy, Local Motive, Irish Boolum, Undercover Kitty, Steinbeck, Cynergy’s Star and Defend. Coastal Mission and Twisted Ride scratched.

“In his morning workouts, he finishes up strong, so I told Carlos to please, please, please take him back,” trainer Juan Avila said in a phone interview after the City of Laurel. “When he was sitting sixth, I was very happy.”

Little Vic failed to crack the top five in three prior stakes appearances but defeated Radical Right in their meeting in a non-winners-of-three allowance at Delaware on Oct. 20, Little Vic’s final start before the City of Laurel. In that race, Little Vic earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred in Kentucky by Stride Sales and Syndicate, 3-year-old Little Vic is by Practical Joke. He is owned by Victorias Ranch and earned his fourth win from 10 lifetime starts for career earnings of $179.230.

Avila mentioned that he would like to try Little Vic at a mile in 2023.

*Safely Kept

Swayin to and Fro earned her second stakes victory with a gate-to-wire triumph in the Safely Kept.

Trained by Mario Serey Jr. for Baxter Racing Stable, Swayin to and Fro showed good speed from the start under jockey Grant Whitacre. She cut out opening fractions of 22.72 and 45.78 while hounded from the outside by Liscolvin.

Swayin to and Fro traveled better than Liscolvin turning into the stretch, then braced for the oncoming challenges of Bazinga C and a four-wide November Rein.

Swayin to and Fro remained strong in the stretch, and drove under the wire 3 1/2 lengths better than a resurgent Liscolvin.

Favored Bazinga C was another head back in third. They were followed home by Moody Woman, Buy the Best, November Rein, Divine Huntress, Click to Confirm, Half Is Enough, Vibrant Judy and Still My Babe. Sweet Gracie, Last Leaf and Noble Bid scratched.

Swayin to and Fro completed seven furlongs in 1:24 flat and returned $15.80 as the fifth choice in the wagering.

“It was Mario’s call to just go,” Whitacre said in an interview broadcast by Laurel Park when asked about the decision to try for the early lead. “She was in hand the whole way and I knew I had plenty left. She wasn’t even blowing coming back.”

Swayin to and Fro was claimed by Serey for $16,000 out of a winning effort in a maiden claimer at Pimlico on May 26. She won five of her first six starts for the new barn, including the $75,000 Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico on Sept. 10.

In her final start before the Safely Kept, Swayin to and Fro finished third, beaten a length in a high-level allowance at Laurel on Oct. 30.

A daughter of Straight Talking, Swayin to and Fro was bred in South Carolina by Franklin Smith Jr. She is out of the Warrior’s Reward mare Jungle Lady, a half-sister to popular Massachusetts bred Dr Blarney, a winner in 26 of 41 starts for earnings of $765,218.

Swayin to and Fro has now captured 7 of 13 starts for earnings of $246,537.

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