Dont Blame the Cat takes Miracle Wood

Dont Blame the Cat made it two wins in a row at Laurel Park on Saturday, coming on with a late run to win the seven-furlong, $54,000 Miracle Wood by a length over Regal Warrior, with the pacesetting Cole T another half-length back in third.

While Cole T led the field through a quarter-mile in 23.43 seconds and the half in 46.56, jockey Erick Rodriquez kept Dont Blame the Cat off that pace but within striking distance.

The two began to move up nearing the quarter pole and then began a determined stretch drive outside of the leader, taking command within the last 70 yards. Regal Warrior came charging late, but Dont Blame the Cat held on.

Dont Blame the Cat, a 3-year-old New York-bred gelding trained by Rick Dutrow, covered the distance in 1:23.62, paying $4.60 as the favorite in the field of 10.

It was the third victory of the day for Rodriguez, who leads the jockey standings at Laurel with 27 victories. Dutrow runners have won 7 of 9 starts at Laurel during this winter meeting.