Corrales has pair in tough optional claimer

The Sunday races at Laurel Park are anchored by a salty third-level optional-claiming sprint, which has attracted the solid Maryland-bred Grandiflora, and the newly relocated runners Something Awesome and Irish Colonel.

The six entrants are closely matched ability-wise. The race is further complicated by the lack of a true front-runner. Hickory Hill, who is trained by Mike Geralis, is typically a stalker but could find himself on the lead.

While nobody in the field is particularly quick, Bodhisattva is devoid of early speed and regularly trails early while racing a route of ground. This is his first start at less than a mile since he finished last in the Dave’s Friend Stakes just under a year ago.

In addition to Bodhisattva, trainer Jose Corrales has Something Awesome in the field. A son of Awesome Again owned and bred by Stronach Stables, Something Awesome was transferred to Corrales from the Woodbine barn of Danny Vella in October and woke up with a big effort to win a second-level optional claimer at Laurel by a decisive four lengths on Nov. 5.

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Something Awesome rallied from eighth that day, and while he likely won’t receive the same quick pace setup Sunday, he is one of the top contenders.

Irish Colonel will be making his first Laurel start. The 4-year-old has made his last 17 starts at Parx but was transferred from Ed Lehman to Cal Lynch for his most recent race, where he rallied to be second in a third-level optional-claiming sprint.

Irish Colonel won a second-level optional claimer in his prior start. Lynch has given the mount to Parx-based Jorge Vargas Jr., who won three races, including two stakes, at Laurel last Saturday.

Trainer Ann Merryman has entered Grandiflora for the $32,000 optional-claiming price for the second straight race. He rallied from a few lengths off the pace to win at this level in his last start, and could find himself closest to possible pacesetter Hickory Hill early.

If Hickory Hill and Grandiflora can slow the tempo down early, there’s a reasonable chance the late battle could come down to them.

Grandiflora was entered in last Saturday’s Howard Bender Memorial Stakes for Maryland-breds at Laurel but was scratched.

Two Charley’s, who is trained by Lynch, completes the field.