Concealed Carry fires to the front, hangs on in Ballezzi Appreciation Mile

Jockey Dexter Haddock was intent on making the early lead with Concealed Carry, and those tactics paid dividends in Saturday’s $75,000 M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile for 3-year-olds and upward at Parx Racing.

Trained by Lou Linder, Concealed Carry was sharp after breaking from the post, and he carried Haddock to the top through an opening quarter of 23.99 seconds with Lonesome Boy and a three-wide Adero giving chase.

Concealed Carry continued up top after a half-mile clocking of 47.24 and was confronted by his primary pace pursuers after six furlongs in 1:12.24.

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Quite simply, the final quarter mile of 27.48 was a stagger-fest. Concealed Carry stayed off the inside and seemingly begged for someone, anyone, to come catch him.

Irish Cork grinded up the rail, Magic Michael surged in between rivals, and Celestial Moon rallied widest and fastest, but the wire came just in the nick of time for Concealed Carry, who raced the mile in 1:39.72 and returned $11.80 as the fourth choice in the wagering.

Celestial Moon finished a neck back in second with Irish Cork another nose behind in third. Magic Michael, Lonesome Boy, favored Adero, Ten Gauge, Ridin With Biden, and Whelen Springs completed the order of finish.

While Concealed Carry did tire noticeably during the stretch drive, he deserves extra credit for doing all the heavy lifting considering that the two horses chasing him during the first six furlongs finished fifth and sixth.

A 5-year-old gelding by Competitive Edge, Concealed Carry was bred in Kentucky by Terrazas Thoroughbreds. A $12,000 short yearling purchase that resold for $15,000 as a yearling, Concealed Carry began his career racing exclusively on turf and synthetic at Woodbine, where he earned a stakes-placing as a 2-year-old.

Acquired by Bran Jam Stable and David Clark at the beginning of 2024, Concealed Carry has also proven very effective on dirt. He placed a head behind Adero when second in the $75,000 Mayor’s Mile at Parx on Aug. 24, then finished behind that rival once again when last of six in the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile on Sept. 21.

Concealed Carry has won 5 of 24 races for lifetime earnings of $221,922.

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