Half-sisters to stakes winners spice up maiden race

Several interestingly bred 3-year-old fillies are entered in race 4 at Laurel Park on Friday.

The Florida-based Jacks or Better Farm of Fred Brei has first-time starter Country Linedancer in the one-mile maiden race. A homebred daughter of the obscure Florida stallion Brooks ‘n Down, Country Linedancer is out of the mare Dame Sylvieguilhem, making her a half-sister to Ballet Diva and Redneck Humor. She is trained by Kenneth Decker.

Ballet Diva, a foal of 2013, went 5 for 15 in her career and earned $482,000 while winning four stakes, including the Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes.

Redneck Humor, an 8-year-old gelding, is still in training in New Mexico. He went 6 for 8 in 2017, including six consecutive stakes wins. He is 14 for 30 in his career with earnings of $445,000.

No will be making her second start after having finished fourth in her debut. Trainer Phil Schoenthal purchased her for $125,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September sale.

No is part of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom’s first crop. Her dam, Taboo, is a half-sister to both Destin and Creative Cause.

Destin won the Sam Davis and Tampa Bay Derby at 3 and missed by a nose in the 2016 Belmont Stakes. Creative Cause, a three-time stakes winner of more than $1 million, will stand at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky this year for a fee of $20,000.

First-timer Miminegash was bred in Kentucky by Tom Ryan’s SF Bloodstock and is owned by SF Racing. She is trained by Chris Melton.

A member of Paynter’s first crop, she is out of the Holy Bull mare Holy Blitz and is a half-sister to Judy the Beauty, the 2014 Eclipse Award-winning filly or mare sprinter.

Judy the Beauty won six stakes, including the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and earned more than $1.8 million. Miminegash, has been working well at Laurel since late October and may be overlooked in the betting Friday.