Enchanted Ghost triumphs in Maryland Racing Media Stakes

Enchanted Ghost turned in a strong, determined effort over a muddy track in the $100,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park on Monday to defeat Indy's Lady by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

Enchanted Ghost went right to the lead from post 2 and jockey Jevian Toledo was able to slow down the pace through fractions of 24.50 and 49.12 seconds.

Indy's Lady, who stalked from second position in the eight-horse field, moved up to challenge from the outside on the far turn, appeared to gain a short lead entering the stretch, but was outfinished in the final furlong as Enchanted Ghost slowly edged away.

Timed in 1:44.84 following six furlongs in 1:13.72 and a mile in 1:38.36, Enchanted Ghost paid $15.20 as the fourth betting choice.

Timeless Curls, the 6-5 favorite, was fanned five wide into the first turn but settled into good position several lengths off the pace. She finished willingly but couldn't make up any ground on the top two and finished 2 1/4 behind Indy's Lady. Isotope, 2-1, went evenly to finish fourth, 5 1/4 lengths farther back.

The win was the third from the first five races on the card for Toledo.

"She handled the muddy track pretty good," Toledo said. "I felt like I had a lot of horse. The other horse went by me by a head but she just came back on her."

Enchanted Ghost, a 4-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Ghostzapper, is trained by Hamilton Smith and owned by Mens Grille Racing. She is now 4 for 13.

The Maryland Racing Media is the second stakes win for Enchanted Ghost, who won the Wide Country Stakes over a muddy track at Laurel in February 2018. She returned from an eight-month layoff in October and the Maryland Racing Media is her first win in six starts since.