Lake Sebago scores in Gin Talking for second straight stakes win

Lake Sebago won her second consecutive stakes Saturday at Laurel Park, rallying wide into the stretch under leading rider Trevor McCarthy to take the $100,000 Gin Talking by two lengths.

Lake Sebago upset the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel Park at 27-1 on Nov. 15, but she was bet down to 4-5 Saturday.

Unhurried while outrun early in the seven-furlong Gin Talking, Lake Sebago advanced between horses on the far turn, came five wide into the stretch, and out-finished Darling Sky for the decision.

Although Lake Sebago added blinkers for the Smart Halo, trainer John Robb downplayed the effect they have had on her performance.

“The blinkers have helped, but she’s never run a bad race,” Robb Said. “She’s getting better and better and just needed more ground.”

Lake Sebago, a daughter of Munnings, now is 5-3-2-0 in her career with earnings of $159,120. She was timed over the sloppy track in 1:25.98 and paid $3.60.

Darling Sky tracked the pace three wide, took a brief lead in upper stretch, but could not keep pace with the winner. Pistolina finished third at 28-1, three lengths behind Darling Sky.

** Wealth to Me looked like he might be beaten in upper stretch of the second race, a fourth-level optional claiming race, but jockey Jevian Toledo got him off the rail and to the outside, and he picked up the tempo to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by David Jacobson, Wealth to Me paid $4 to win as the favorite in the six-horse field.

Charles Town shipper Lucy’s Bob Boy ran well in defeat to be second best. He was moving to the lead in upper stretch but could not keep pace with Wealth to Me.

Lucy’s Bob Boy, a 5-year-old gelding, now is 21 for 28 at Charles Town for trainer Sandra Dono but 0 for 4 on the road.