Fille d'Esprit looks to give Robb another Politely victory

There is a reason why John Robb trains Fille d’Esprit. Her name is Anna’s Bandit, a mare Robb bred and conditioned who captured 17 of 39 races for earnings of $806,555.

Both Anna’s Bandit and Fille d’Esprit are by Great Notion out of No Armistice mares, and that breeding nick convinced Robb to claim Fille d’Esprit for $10,000 on Aug. 21, 2020.

Fille d’Esprit tries to emulate Anna’s Bandit on Friday in Laurel Park’s Politely for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Anna’s Bandit won the 2019 edition under Xavier Perez, who will ride Fille d’Esprit from the outside post in a field of six.

The Politely is one of two $75,000 stakes restricted to Maryland-bred or -sired runners Friday, along with the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial for 3-year-olds and upward at seven furlongs.

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Fille d’Esprit has won 9 of 19 starts for Robb, including four stakes. In her most recent appearance, she won Laurel’s Maryland Million Distaff on Oct. 22.

“I never dreamt she’d be this good,” Robb said. “I was just hoping she was worth the $10,000.”

Robb is pleased that Fille d’Esprit, a horse with tactical speed, drew outside.

Juror Number Four ships from Delaware Park for trainer Brittany Russell following a rallying victory in a conditioned allowance on Oct. 19. A late-running daughter of Into Mischief, Juror Number Four likely needs fast fractions to aid her stretch kick.

“If we can get her a setup, I think she can factor,” Russell told Laurel track publicity.

Hollywood Walk has won three of her last five, but those races came on turf. She ran second and third in her two starts on dirt, both in maiden races.

“She had run okay on dirt, but never at this level,” said trainer Michael Trombetta. “We’re at the end of the season and she’s doing well, so we figured we’d give her a try.”

Hollywood Walk’s two most recent victories came from a stalking position in turf sprints.

Completing the field are Paisley Singing, Targe, and Queen Sheba.

Bender Memorial

Whereshetoldmetogo looks to win the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial for the second consecutive year. The 7-year-old gelded son of El Padrino has won 17 of 37 starts. A Friday victory makes him racing’s newest millionaire.

Whereshetoldmetogo had a four-race winning streak snapped when second in a non-conditioned allowance at Delaware on Oct. 29. Russell said the winner, No Cents, got the jump on Whereshetoldmetogo in a race that was shorter than ideal for him.

“I think he ran his race,” Russell told track publicity.

Jevian Toledo pilots Whereshetoldmetogo from post 3.

Trainer Lynn Cash sends out Monday Morning Qb and Going to the Lead. Monday Morning Qb won the Maryland Million Classic in 2020, and enters off a second-level allowance win on Nov. 7. His last four races came going two turns.

Alwaysinahurry and One Ten are in good form. Antipoison steps up off a starter-allowance victory. Twisted Ride was to run in a stakes at Parx on Wednesday and will likely scratch.

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