Coast Highway prevails in chaotic stretch run to win Laurel Futurity
:quality(75))
Coast Highway, a second-time starter trained by Graham Motion, was upheld as the winner of the $125,000 Laurel Futurity Stakes after multiple incidents in the stretch resulted in a lengthy review by the stewards Saturday at Laurel Park.
With a furlong to go in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for juveniles, Coast Highway and jockey Jorge Ruiz closed down the center of the track and drifted in, crossing in front of Bishop Moon and Perfect Dream, who also bumped together while Bishop Moon was trying to find running room. While Coast Highway was making his move, the flagging front-runner Fullcup bore out from the inside, leaving no room for Howard’s Hope, who fell in tight quarters and unseated jockey Jose Lezcano.
Howard’s Hope and Lezcano both managed to get up after the race.
Before the profoundly green stretch run, Broadcast also bumped Coast Highway on the far turn and was taken up before re-rallying along the inside.
While the stewards posted a general inquiry to look into the incident regarding Howard’s Hope, the matter was further complicated when the riders on Broadcast and Perfect Dream, Mychel Sanchez and Chantal Suthlerland, both launched objections against the winner.
“Georgie [Ruiz] was very adamant that he didn’t do anything wrong from the minute he got back,” Motion said. Broadcast “at the three-eighths pole popped off him, while George kept a straight line. Then it was just such an unfortunate incident in the stretch. Thank God, everyone's okay.”
The stewards ultimately did not take action against Coast Highway, but instead disqualified Fullcup from third to last for bearing out under Jaime Rodriguez. The front-runner was making his turf debut for Riley Mott and completed the opening quarter-mile in 24.63 seconds and half-mile in 51.02, but the slow fractions were not enough to keep him clear of trouble.
After bumping on the far turn in the first of many incidents, Coast Highway and Broadcast hooked up again to decide the race near the wire. The deep closers were both surging, but with momentum down the center, Coast Highway managed to prevail by a head. He completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:48.38 and paid $13 to win.
“I haven’t done much with him,” Motion said. “He broke his maiden [at 5 1/2 furlongs] three weeks ago, and he really just galloped up to this race. I love to point for these races at Laurel. I think the Selima and the Laurel Futurity are great spots for these 2-year-olds, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to take a shot with him in there.”
Broadcast, who finished fourth by three-quarters of a length in his debut at Saratoga last month, is now winless in two unlucky starts for Miguel Clement.
Fullcup finished two lengths behind Broadcast and 4 1/2 lengths clear of Bishop Moon, a 49-1 shot who had his own part in the chaotic stretch run. He was elevated to third for trainer Mark Shuman.
Selima Stakes
Hidden Overture survived a less dramatic rider’s objection to win the $125,000 Selima Stakes on Saturday. The juvenile filly was undoubtedly green under Julian Pimentel in the stretch, but the stewards ruled her unruly late move did not interfere with the runner-up, Homeawayfromhome.
In her debut for Brittany Russell earlier this month, Hidden Overture ran in a maiden race taken off the turf and kicked clear by 13 3/4 lengths. Pimentel, who returned to the saddle this year after a hiatus, was aboard in her first start and got the mount again Saturday. It was his first stakes victory since 2021.
The 21-1 longshot Sun Valley was the uncontested early leader in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, easing through an opening quarter-mile in 24.16 seconds and half-mile in 49.94. She did not hold up on the far turn, as Pimentel urged Hidden Overture forward from fourth to take over by 2 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch.
Sea Isle City, a last-out maiden winner at Kentucky Downs for Keri Brion, ran on from a similar stalking position but struggled to make up ground, leaving the deep closer Homeawayfromhome as the only challenger near the end.
While Mychel Sanchez made his late move aboard the Brendan Walsh trainee, Pimentel did his best to keep Hidden Overture to task in front.
The filly did not respond well to urging with the crop on either side, ducking out before swerving back in and forcing Homeawayfromhome to steady. This was not deemed enough to cause a disqualification, and Hidden Overture hung on by three-quarters of a length, completing the distance in 1:47.02 and paying $14.20 to win.
Sea Isle City finished a half-length behind Homeawayfromhome and was clear for third by two lengths over Sun Valley.
All Along Stakes
While the juveniles caused a commotion later on the Laurel card, Mischief in Motion could not have enjoyed a cleaner trip in the $100,000 All Along Stakes on Saturday. Angel Cruz successfully stole the race aboard the 25-1 longshot, kicking clear at the top of the stretch and hanging on by a half-length.
Bettors were understandably hesitant to support the 4-year-old filly in her second start this year for trainer Michael Trombetta. In her first start off an eight-month layoff last month, she finished last by 12 lengths in the $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth. She paid $52 to win on Saturday.
Grayosh, the 4-5 favorite trained by Chad Brown, tried to close late, but the winner of the Grade 3 Matchmaker could not make up the ground at Laurel and had to settle for third. She was one of several closers in the field of six who simply ran out of room.
In her 11 prior starts, Mischief in Motion had only set the early pace one other time, when Cruz rode her to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Christiana Stakes at Delaware last year. He was not afraid to try it again at 1 1/8 miles at Laurel and was rewarded with an uncontested lead. She completed the opening quarter-mile in 23.99 seconds and half-mile in 49.65.
With Shore War just behind and Grayosh and Awesome Czech preparing their bids from farther back, Cruz sensed the moment on the far turn and gave it everything he had. She kicked clear by four lengths at the top of the stretch, challenging anyone to make the move to catch her.
Grayosh had the first chance at running down the front-runner, but she was outkicked in midstretch by Awesome Czech, who made a more compelling move near the wire. The Horacio De Paz-trained New York-bred gave it his all, but he just missed near the wire. Mischief in Motion completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:51.43.
Grayosh finished three-quarters of a length behind Awesome Czech in third.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.