Herpes scare at Belmont puts hurt on Laurel's Saturday card

The equine herpesvirus scare at Belmont Park dealt a serious blow to a very good Winter Carnival card at Laurel Park on Saturday as 14 New York-based horses have been scratched to protect the local horse population from coming in contact with any horses that may have been exposed to the disease.

A filly, Ladies Day, was euthanized Friday at Belmont with what is thought to be equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurological strain of the virus). Barn 10 at Belmont, where she was stabled, has been placed under quarantine.

On Friday evening, the Maryland Jockey Club put in shipping protocols that will prevent horses stabled at Belmont or Aqueduct to ship to Laurel or Pimlico during the quarantine.

The 11-race card at Laurel Saturday had a possible 86 starters, but 15 scratches have reduced average field size from 7.82 horses per race to 6.45.

On Saturday morning, the track still had some moisture in it and may start out as "good." Although late afternoon winter precipitation is forecast, morning temperatures were pleasant and skies were clear.

The Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie was hit hardest by the scratches, and the original 11-horse field has been reduced to five following the scratch of possible favorite Highway Star, plus Divine Miss Grey, Quezon, Boule, Bishop's Pond, and Skyflower.

Ms Locust Point now looks like a short price to earn her first graded win in the seven-furlong race for fillies and mares.

The day's co-feature, the Grade 3, $250,000 General George lost its two favorites - Great Stuff and Do Share - and now has a field of eight.

Locally based Awesome Banner, It's the Journey, and Something Awesome, the first-, second-, and third-place finishers in the Jan. 20 Fire Plug Stakes, are top contenders, with favoritism likely to go to Awesome Banner.

A possible longshot to consider is Cowboy Mz, who is based at Parx with Marcos Zulueta. He may be quicker than Awesome Banner and could be hard to reel in on the lead.

The $100,000 John Campbell, $100,000 Miracle Wood, and $100,000 Wide Country held together well, but the Maryland Racing Media, a $100,000 race for fillies and mares, has five scratches and a five-horse field.

Sherini was third in the Ladies at Aqueduct for trainer Graham Motion and may be favored, but that race was run in slow time with a 14-second final furlong. Line of Best Fit, In the Navy Now, and Sky Flower are coming off good efforts in the Nellie Morse Stakes and could fill the exacta.