LAUREL, Md. – Carmelina earned her third stakes triumph of 2023 with a front-running, two-length victory over favored Cap Classique in Saturday’s $100,000 Gin Talking Stakes for juvenile fillies at Laurel Park. The Gin Talking shared top billing on the nine-race program with the $100,000 Heft for juveniles, also at seven furlongs. Trained by Butch Reid for Cash Is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, Carmelina broke with her usual alacrity and set rated fractions of 23.12 and 46.15 while prompted from the outside by Cap Classique. Cap Classique loomed briefly turning into the stretch, but Carmelina spurted clear and kept churning away. The Maximus Mischief filly completed the distance in 1:24.83 under jockey Sheldon Russell and returned $6.60 to win as the second choice in the wagering. Munny Grab placed another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. They were followed home by Roanan Goddess, Kissedbyanangel, and Shine On Moon. Go Sherry Go scratched. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Earlier this week, Reid told Daily Racing Form that Carmelina was a “high-wire act” prone to getting anxious and antsy prior to entering the gate. “It’s not something you want to hear walking into the paddock,” said Russell, who rode Carmelina for the first time in the Gin Talking. “[Reid] gave me a heads-up. She’s been good. She warmed up lovely, a little bit anxious behind the gate, but nothing terrible.” Russell was pleased with how relaxed Carmelina settled. “She broke away nicely. I put her in front, and I put her in park. At the three-eighths, I could see the red blinkers. I knew it was [Cap Classique]. I felt like [she] was traveling better than me at the time, but [Carmelina] sort of jumped on the right lead at the top of the stretch, pinned her ears back, and she’s been all heart. Not the biggest filly, but she’s all heart.” Bred in Pennsylvania by Lillith Boucher, Carmelina sold for $44,000 as a weanling. She captured her career debut traveling 4 1/2 furlongs at Parx on June 18, then finished fifth of seven in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes. Carmelina then grabbed Colonial’s Keswick Stakes, a race more impressive than it seems considering she “sat down a little bit and got the jock off” before the race, according to Reid. After a failed experiment around two turns on turf in Laurel’s Selima, Carmelina returned to dirt sprints and dominated nine other statebreds in last month’s Shamrock Rose at Penn National. “She’s obviously come a long way,” Reid said in the winner’s circle. “She had been loose a couple of times in previous starts before the race. To see her go like that and mature like that is really an exciting thing.” Reid, who conditioned Uncle Heavy to win Wednesday’s Wait for It Stakes at Parx, mentioned that Carmelina would get a break and point to a 3-year-old campaign. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Sweet Soddy J rebounds in Heft For the second consecutive week, a horse owned by Lynn Cash’s Built Wright Stables, trained by Raymond Ginter, Jr., and ridden by Jeiron Barbosa rebounded from a stakes loss at Oaklawn Park to win one at Laurel. Last Saturday, Double Crown bounced back from a 25 1/2-length drubbing in Oaklawn’s Tinsel to take the Robert T. Manfuso. “I think I have to keep my guys out of the fast lane,” Cash admitted after Double Crown’s victory when talking about venues like Oaklawn. This time, it was Sweet Soddy J’s turn. Last of 11 in Oaklawn’s Advent on Dec. 8, Sweet Soddy J led from start to finish in the Heft. Taking advantage somewhat of when both American War Hero and Great Opportunity stumbled at the start, Barbosa doled out fractions of 22.69 and 46.14 seconds, then booted the gelding home to prevail by six lengths in 1:24.04. Great Opportunity, who chased the winner in second throughout, held the place spot by two lengths over Cool in Blue. American War Hero, Davyjonz, Catahoula Moon, and Deposition rounded out the order of finish. Mister Agent scratched. Sweet Soddy J paid $18.40 as the fourth betting choice. Sweet Soddy J won his first two starts, including the Timonium Juvenile going a two-turn 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 2, but rode a five-race losing streak into the Heft. The last time Barbosa rode Sweet Soddy J, the gelding failed to change leads when fourth in the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel on Nov. 11. “He was better today with his lead changes,” said Barbosa, who felt that the rail was advantageous on the main track. “My team told me to stay close, second or third. He broke on top today. He broke beautiful.” Barbosa said that Sweet Soddy J was strong in the stretch, and feels he’ll be successful at longer distances. A homebred by Bee Jersey, Sweet Soddy J has won 3 of 8 starts for lifetime earnings of $157,250. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.