Blinkers-on No Dozing wakes up in Concern Stakes

Trainer Arnaud Delacour fitted No Dozing with blinkers for the $72,000 Concern Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday and the Union Rags colt showed improved speed and broke a six-race losing streak.

The Concern, a seven-furlong event for 3-year-olds, was run over a muddy track and reduced to four starters after three entrants scratched.

No Dozing broke slowly from post 1 but moved up in the opening furlong to take the lead under Daniel Centeno, a far different style than his most recent races, in which he dropped well back going longer distances.

No Dozing was joined from the outside by Honor the Fleet, and the outcome seemed in doubt when Honor the Fleet put a head in front. But No Dozing exerted his class in the stretch and pulled away to win by four lengths.

"He took the lead like he was comfortable," Centeno said. "When he switched leads in the stretch, he broke again."

No Dozing, who is owned and was bred by the Lael Stables of Roy and Gretchen Jackson, paid $3.60 to win. He was timed in 1:22.85, after fractions of 23.14, 45.89, and 1:10.29.

"He always runs a little bit the same," Delacour said. "On the turns you think he is done, and when he gets balanced, he finds another gear."

Honor the Fleet, who was difficult to saddle, held second by 1 1/2 lengths over 9-5 second choice Proforma. Alex Again finished far back in fourth.

No Dozing won his first two career starts as a 2-year-old. He had made his last six starts in graded-stakes company, finishing second in the Remsen Stakes and the Pat Day Mile, and third in the Lexington. The Concern was his first start since the Pat Day on May 6, as Delacour freshened him to let a bruised foot heal.