Fascinatin’ Rhythm best in Geisha

Fascinatin’ Rhythm made it two in a row at Laurel Park on Saturday, putting away four rivals to win the $50,000 Geisha Stakes by a length.

Winner of the six-furlong Jameela on the Laurel turf last month to end a 13-race losing streak, Fascinatin’ Rhythm stretched out to a mile on dirt in the Geisha. Ridden by Forest Boyce, she pressed the pacesetting Ysabel T. through a quarter-mile in 24.17 seconds, then took over along the backstretch, leading the field through a half-mile in 47.26 seconds, three-quarters in 1:11.83.

Racing down the middle of the stretch, she was ahead by as many as four lengths and was never seriously challenged, as a late run by Blind Date was good only for second, 5 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Love’s Blush, the even-money favorite. Sterling Vow was another five lengths back in fourth and Ysabel T. a distant fifth.

Fascinatin’ Rhythm ($8.60) covered the distance in 1:37.14.

A 5-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of More Than Ready, Fascinatin’ Rhythm is trained by Richard Small for owner/breeder Buckingham Farm. The winner’s share of $30,000 brought her career earnings to $223,836 from a 6-4-5 record in 23 starts.