Getting the best trip proved integral in a wide-open running of the $100,000 Laurel Dash Stakes on Saturday. While several contenders lacked running room in the late stages, Had to Have Him powered down the center to win the six-furlong race by two lengths. Trainer John Salzman Jr. has run Had to Have Him at Laurel in 18 of his 20 career starts, but after an impressive runner-up finish in the $150,000 Van Clief at Colonial Downs last time out, the 4-year-old gelding was coming home with newfound focus. His first stakes victory Saturday was the result of steady improvement and a superb ride from jockey JG Torrealba. When early leaders Fore Harp and Where’s Ray entered a hotly contested duel through an opening quarter-mile in 22.61 and half-mile in 45.16, it opened the door for several closers to advance from farther back. With so many runners making late bids in the field of 11, getting through unscathed required some luck. Steadying soon after the break, 5-year-old gelding Fierce and Strong began a determined rally from eighth on the turn before taking up in tight quarters entering the far turn. This same incident also stopped Great Idea, who was closing from last. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Live High Live Low, a 4-year-old gelding trained by George Weaver, was in fifth around the turn and may have closed off Fierce and Strong when he moved toward the rail on the turn. He went on to find his own trouble, however, when jockey Jevian Toledo tried and failed to slip through a tight seam in the stretch. The gelding had to check late, effectively ending his race on the spot. While the area inside of them remained messy from the far turn to the wire, Torrealba and Had to Have Him decided to take the long way around from eighth, circling the field on the turn and swinging widest of all into the stretch. While his most important late-running rivals were squeezing one another out of contention, he was charging down the center and had plenty left to seal the deal late. He finished the six-furlongs in 1:09.20 and paid $8.20 to win. Mischievous Angel, a 5-year-old gelding trained by Jorge Abreu, had little to offer the winner as he motored past in the stretch, but by stalking the early pace from third early on, he managed to work out a clean trip and hung on for second. As if to prove a point for trainer Michael Salvaggio Jr., Fierce and Strong made a furious rerallying charge near the wire, but he simply had too much to do and finished a head behind Mischievous Angel in third. Sensible Lady Turf Dash Two runners left the field well behind in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash Stakes, and after saving a little more ground on the backstretch, Toupie and jockey Daniel Centeno outkicked Lifelovenlaughter to win by 1 1/4 lengths. “I was really pleased to see her get back on track,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I thought Daniel gave her a great ride settling off the pace. That’s her. She’s been very good and consistent, this filly.” Motion might have had to scratch Queen of the Mud from the Sensible Lady, but Toupie gave her trainer more than enough firepower in her return to Laurel. In her two prior starts in Maryland, the 4-year-old filly won her July 2023 debut on dirt and later took the $100,000 Stormy Blues during her 3-year-old campaign. She was favored in both races and lived up to her billing again on Saturday, paying $5.40 to win. In her first ride under Centeno, the 8-5 favorite had to settle farther back than usual after hitting the gate, beginning the race in fifth without much urgency. Sally’s Gold, a 28-1 longshot, took the early lead by 2 1/2 lengths through an opening quarter-mile in 22.57. The loose early leader seemed to have a chance at stealing the race when she extended to lead by 4 1/2 lengths, completing the half-mile in 44.99. Her advantage didn't last much longer, however, as 5-year-old mare Lifelovenlaughter advanced into second along the inside in order to get into striking position in the stretch. Jockey Jorge Ruiz urged her past to take a short lead, but the early move for the front might have cost him at the wire. Unhurried on the backstretch and into the far turn, Centeno and Toupie rode the rail all the way around and tipped out to move between Sally’s Good and Lifelovenlaughter entering the stretch. Lifelovenlaughter, who entered the Sensible Lady on a three-race winning streak for Mike Trombetta, ran on well and challenged Toupie to the wire. But saving so much early ground, Motion’s filly simply had more to offer and was comfortably ahead at the wire. She completed the six-furlong distance in 1:08.63. Loon Cry, the winner of last year’s running of the Sensible Lady, picked up the pieces from eighth for trainer Miguel Clement, finishing third in a photo finish over Flamingo Way, a 10-1 outsider trained by Philip Aristone. All Along Stakes With a second straight stakes victory at Laurel on the line, Motion had it either way in the $100,000 All Along Stakes on Saturday, as No Show Sammy Jo completed a determined stretch bid to win by a nose over her stablemate, Sirona. After a disappointing start to the season in tougher company, it was the 5-year-old mare’s first victory since winning the All Along last year. When No Show Sammy Jo made her stakes debut in the 2024 running of the race and picked up her fourth victory in five career starts, Motion believed that he had a star in the making. But in five starts since, including two Grade 1 races, she has failed to step forward. Her trainer brought her back to Laurel on Saturday in the hopes of helping her return to her winning ways. “We did what we set out to do,” Motion said. “We got [No Show Sammy Jo] back on track and got her into the winner’s circle, which was very rewarding.” Though she entered the race on a yearlong losing streak, bettors at Laurel gave her a warm welcome in her return to Maryland, making her the 2-5 favorite in the field of six. She paid $2.80 to win. Sirona, Motion’s other mare, was the 2-1 second choice in her North American debut. “You feel bad for one owner to finish second, but I was really proud of Sirona,” Motion said. “I haven’t done much with her. I feel like, at this time of year, you start running out of options on the turf. I had only breezed her twice, so I thought that was a really good effort, and another super ride from Daniel [Centeno].” Cut From Class, a 23-1 longshot set the opening pace in the 1 1/16-mile race and opened up to lead by 3 1/2 lengths through a slow opening quarter-mile in 24.94. Sirona chased behind in second while jockey Jorge Ruiz kept No Show Sammy Jo clear on the outside in third around the first turn. The field remained in similar formation through a half-mile in 50.30, and though Cut From Class managed to lead into the far turn, it was clear that both Motion runners had the upper hand. Sirona and Centeno, winning rider on Toupie in the Sensible Lady, made the first move past the early leader, but No Show Sammy Jo was not far behind. Sirona, the German-bred stakes runner stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in her stateside debut, ran on stubbornly to the wire, even after her stablemate stuck a head in front in midstretch. With a well-timed ride from Centeno, she nearly managed to win the bob from behind, but No Show Sammy Jo and Ruiz held on the slightest advantage, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.87. Venomous Vixen, a 4-year-old filly trained by Brittany Russell, made up ground from last but never seriously challenged for the lead. She finished 1 1/4 lengths behind in third, a length ahead of For Arrogate, a deep-closing maiden trained by Jonathan Thomas. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.