Fascinatin’ Rhythm comes on strong to take Jameela

Fascinatin’ Rhythm came flying in the stretch and got up to win the $50,000 Jameela at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. kept Fascinatin’ Rhythm off the fast pace in the six-furlong turf event. Homeister swung Fascinatin’ Rhythm to the outside in the stretch and wore down the leaders, drawing clear late to win by two lengths. Kosmo’s Buddy led late but was second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Onearmedbandit in third.

Trained by Richard Small, Fascinatin’ Rhythm was making her second turf start. Homeister worked Fascinatin’ Rhythm, a 5-year-old More Than Ready mare, last Friday and was thrilled with her mount’s performance.

“She is a pretty big horse, and I worked her the other day five furlongs, when I found out this stake was six furlongs. I thought it would hit her right in the head. When I saw four horses across going into the stretch, I swung her wide, and her heart got big and she blew by them.”

Fascinatin’ Rhythm returned $36 to win and ran six furlongs over the yielding turf course in 1.11.01. The $2 trifecta returned $17,124.00 with all three horses’ odds in the teens.