Laurel: Malibu Moonshine closes fast

Malibu Moonshine, blocked on the rail entering the stretch, swung out very wide to find racing room, then blasted home fastest of all to win the $75,000 Miracle Wood at Laurel Park.

The Miracle Wood was a scramble among longhots Mr. Cliveden (60-1), Family Ghost (21-1), and Sueno Del Mar (57-1) for the first six furlongs, but turning for home, the more logical contenders were gaining fast.

Legal Control, the 9-5 favorite, came wide on the turn and inherited the lead in upper stretch. But Malibu Moonshine had more momentum under Steve Hamilton and shot by him to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a field of 11.

Seize, 3-1, finished another 2 3/4 lengths behind in third.

Owned by Marriott Woodrow and trained by King Leatherbury, Malibu Moonshine raised his record to four wins in seven starts for earnings of $95,280.

Coupled with Woody's Apache, Malibu Moonshine paid $6.80. He ran the mile in a relatively slow 1:40.25 over a fast track.