Fiya extends streak in Maryland Million Turf Sprint

Fiya won his fourth consecutive race Saturday when he darted home by 2 1/4 lengths over So Street in the $75,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap on Saturday at Laurel Park.

The race was one of eight divisional stakes on the card.

Fiya ($2.20) sat just off Grateful Bred, who took the field through an opening quarter in 21.95 seconds on ground rated good. Fiya moved to the fore through a half-mile in 45.03 seconds, then sprinted clear in the later stages while covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.56.

“It worked out perfect,” jockey Trevor McCarthy said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel. “We had a great position. He sat off the pace nice. When I asked him to accelerate, he really did.”

The win was the third stakes victory on the card for McCarthy, who also captured the $100,000 Ladies with Epic Idea ($13.60) and the $100,000 Lassie with Miss Nondescript ($8.40).

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Fiya started his win streak at Laurel, with a maiden and restricted allowance score over the local course this summer. He was then sold at auction and in his first start for current owner Robert Masiello and trainer Tom Albertrani he won a first-level allowance at Belmont Park, covering six furlongs on turf in a blazing 1:06.70.

On the strength of the performance, Fiya was a strong favorite Saturday. The 3-year-old son of Friesan Fire has now won 4 of 6 starts for earnings of $134,716.

In the first of the program’s stakes, McCarthy guided Epic Idea to a three-quarter-length win over Gennie Highway in the Ladies. The winner set fractions of 24.85 seconds for the opening quarter, 51.73 for the half-mile, and 1:16.81 for six furlongs before going on to cover the mile and an eighth on “good” turf in 1:55.06.

Ann Merryman trains Epic Idea for her breeder, Vivian Rall. The winner is by Great Notion and with her first stakes victory improved her career record to 3 for 10 for earnings of $143,477.

In the Lassie, Miss Nondescript was up for a neck win over favorite Street Lute. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Trip to Freedom.

Miss Nondescript stalked the pace set by Trip to Freedom, who put up fractions of 21.93 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.38 for the half-mile. The winner covered the six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies on a fast track in 1:10.13.

Miss Nondescript is a daughter of Mosler who races for her breeder, Barak Farm, and is trained by Michael Trombetta. Miss Nondescript is now 2 for 2, after winning her debut in a maiden special weight last month at Monmouth Park.

Hello Beautiful pulls away

Hello Beautiful drew out to an 11 1/4-length win over Quiet Imagination in the $100,000 Distaff.

Hello Beautiful ($3) was always prominent, tracking Limited View through an opening quarter in 22.30 seconds and a half-mile in 45.60. She took over from there, and increased her advantage with each passing stride while covering the seven furlongs for fillies and mares on a fast track in 1:21.84.

“It was satisfying to get her home today,” trainer Brittany Russell said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel. “She’s been a big part of my career thus far. I have clients and horses in my barn because of her. She’s very special.”

Russell’s husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, was aboard Hello Beautiful. The daughter of Golden Lad races for the partnership of Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stable, and Magic City S.

Hello Beautiful has now won 5 of 11 starts and earned $257,110.

* Kenny Had a Notion ($16.40) won his second straight stakes when he darted home by five lengths over Alwaysinahurry in the $100,000 Nursery. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:10.55. Jorge Ruiz was aboard for trainer Dale Capuano. Kenny Had a Notion is a son of Great Notion who races for Louis Ulman and Neil Glasser.