Laurel: Eyes on Versailles goes for hot Capuano

Trainer Gary Capuano, white-hot since celebrating his 45th birthday on Nov. 14, will try to continue his hot hand when he saddles Eyes on Versailles in the $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park.

Capuano has gone 12 for 18 since his birthday, including a pair of wins by Eyes on Versailles, one of only two runners in the field of eight Maryland-bred 2-year-olds with a win at the Maryland Juvenile's distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Just two others appear capable of matching the Beyer par of 82 for the last seven runnings of the Maryland Juvenile.

Peace Town, idle since mid-October, and The Prince, who has raced just twice, both will be stretching out to a two-turn route for the first time.

Peace Town, trained by Mike Trombetta, has been off since finishing second in a six-furlong overnight stakes at Belmont Park, earning a 93 Beyer that was nearly 30 points higher than his previous win, in a six-furlong optional claimer at Laurel. With two stamina-building works since Dec. 6, Peace Town should be ready for his first route.

The Prince, from the high-percentage barn of Tony Dutrow, adds blinkers after a rough trip that caused him to be disqualified from second to third in a first-level allowance at Philadelphia Park. Although Dutrow is highly successful with first-time blinkers and horses stretching from sprints to routes, he is just 1 for 6 with the combination of both those angles, according to DRF's Formulator.