Harpers First Ride notches sixth win of year in Richard W. Small

Harpers First Ride won his sixth race of the year Saturday when he rolled to a three-length victory over Cordmaker in the $100,000 Richard W. Small at Laurel Park.

It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Name Changer in third.

The Richard W. Small was one of six stakes on the card. Each was worth $100,000.

Harpers First Ride ($4) on Saturday settled off the pace set by Bal Harbour, who was pressured through fractions of 23.14 for the opening quarter, 46.24 for the half-mile and 1:10.64 for six furlongs. Harpers First Ride made a four-wide move around the final turn and went on to cover the about 1 1/16-mile distance on a fast track in 1:41.92.

“He sat behind the pace,” winning rider Angel Cruz said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel. “He just relaxed for me and, on the far turn, I had a lot of horse. When I tapped him, he responded to me. I had a ton of horse. He ran his heart out.”

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Cruz was aboard Harpers First Ride for MCA Racing Stable and trainer Claudio Gonzalez.

Harpers First Ride is now 6 for 10 in 2020, and among his wins is the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. Overall, he is a winner of 9 of 16 starts and has earnings of $513,055.

Double for Madaket, Russells

Madaket Stables, trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Sheldon Russell had a stakes double on the card when Whereshetoldmetogo fought for a nose win over Laki in the Frank Whiteley and Hello Beautiful racked up her second straight stakes win in the Safely Kept.

Madaket is a partner in both horses, while Sheldon Russell is the husband of Brittany Russell.

Hello Beautiful ($3.40) delivered as the favorite in the Safely Kept, with a three-length win over Reagan’s Edge. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back in third to Landing Zone. The winner tracked the pace through a half-mile in 45.08 seconds and went on to win the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:22.26.

Hello Beautiful is now 6 for 6 on the main track at Laurel. She entered the Safely Kept off an 11 1/4-length win in the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap on Oct. 24 at Laurel.

“She’s so special. It means so much,” Brittany Russell told publicity at Laurel. “You always want to win races, but with a filly like this, it’s such a relief when she runs the way she did today.”

Hello Beautiful, who is a daughter of Golden Lad, also races for Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stable, and Magic City.

Whereshetoldmetogo ($9.80) stalked the pace in the Whiteley, advanced, and battled through the lane while covering six furlongs in 1:08.59. He is a son of El Padrino who also races for Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber, and Black Cloud Racing Stable.

** Don’tletsweetfoolya ($10.40) gave her rivals the slip at the start to win her fourth straight race in the Primonetta. She set fractions of 22.34 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.21 for the half-mile before going on to a 5 1/4-length win over Never Enough Time. Don’tletsweetfoolya covered the six furlongs in 1:09.79. Jevian Toledo was aboard the daughter of Stay Thirsty for Five Hellions Farm and trainer Lacey Gaudet.

** Eres Tu ($11.80) became a stakes winner when she rolled to a 1 1/2-length win over Lucky Stride in the Thirty Eight Go Go. The winner was always prominent while covering the about 1 1/16-mile distance on a fast track in 1:42.62. Trevor McCarthy was aboard for trainer Arnaud Delacour. The daughter of Malibu Moon races for Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson.

** Air Token ($35.60) was up for a neck win over Francatelli in the Concern. The winner covered seven furlongs for 3-year-olds in 1:22.29. Horacio Karamanos was aboard the son of Golden Lad for Corrales Racing and trainer Jose Corrales.