Late Night Pow Wow possible for Madison Stakes

The Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on Saturday at Laurel Park came down to a fierce stretch battle between Late Night Pow Wow and California shipper Spiced Perfection. The result was up in the air until the pair hit the wire, with Late Night Pow Wow coming out a head on top and improving her career record to 11 wins in 12 starts.

Trainer Javier Contreras is proud of Late Night Pow Wow, who covered seven furlongs in 1:21.61 and earned a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure. He vanned the 4-year-old West Virginia-bred back to Charles Town after the race.

“The filly ran fantastic,” Contreras said. “To me, it was her best race. She was very game. She just loves to win.”

Contreras owned Late Night Pow Wow for her first nine starts and then sold her to Mike Hall and Sam Ross, who race as Breeze Easy LLC. She has raced 11 times since April but obviously is doing well, and the plan is to go on with her.

“The owners want to keep going with her this year as long as she can do it,” Contreras said. “She came out of the race very good.”

Late Night Pow Wow is likely to test deeper waters in her next start, which could come in the Grade 1, $300,000 Madison, a seven-furlong race April 6 at Keeneland.

“There are other smaller races out there, but to go to Keeneland for a Grade 1 would be a career dream for me,” Contreras said.