Clever Mind, Limited View look to double up in juvenile stakes

Of the four stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, the 2-year-old races have come up especially interesting.

Clever Mind and Limited View were the most dramatic winners on Maryland Million Day at Laurel. Clever Mind came from the clouds to win his career debut in the Nursery for trainer Graham Motion, and Limited View came from even farther back to take the Lassie for John Salzman Jr.

On Saturday, Motion expects Clever Mind to be “a bit more engaged” early in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity, while Salzman will have his fingers crossed that Limited View is on her best behavior in the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship. Both races are at seven furlongs.

Clever Mind was carried in at the beginning of the Nursery after breaking from post 1. He looped his field with a sharp finish to win by two lengths.

Limited View has a world of potential but can be her own worst enemy. She was fractious in the gate prior to the Lassie, then broke awkwardly and bore out from post 11. She closed wide from more than a dozen lengths back to win by three-quarters of a length. She is 3 for 4 in her career.

“I think she’s grown up a little bit and settled down some,” Salzman said. “But we still have to go through all the hoops on race day.”

The stakes for 3-year-olds and up are the $75,000 Howard Bender Memorial for Maryland-breds and the $100,000 Willa On the Move for open fillies and mares.

It’s a Journey, Showalter, and Lewisfield top a field of 12 in the Bender. The Willa On the Move has nine entrants, but Absatootly is expected to remain in New York for the $100,000 Garland of Roses on Saturday.

Trainer John Servis also has cross-entered Ms Locust Point but as of Wednesday had not decided where she will start. The field includes Shimmering Aspen and My Magician.