Laurel: Martha's Music dominates

The way Martha's Music runs at Laurel Park, it would be understandable if trainer John Servis continues to shuttle her to Maryland from her home at Philadelphia Park.

But after watching Martha's Music ($5) cruise to her third straight stakes victory at Laurel in the $50,000 Nellie Morse Stakes, Servis said he has a new road trip planned for his 4-year-old filly.

"As much as I hate to take her off this racetrack, I think we're going to venture to New York and give her a step up and see how she moves on," Servis said.

Martha's Music, who covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.56, sat second behind a sluggish pace of 50.15 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:14.96 for six furlongs set by Annatoga, a mare who had won six of her last seven races.

When jockey Stewart Elliott asked Martha's Music to run at the quarter pole, she readily moved to the lead and drew off to win by four lengths over 51-1 longshot Mystic Notion.

"The slow fractions were great," Elliott said. "I just stayed second with her, and that left me plenty of horse to come home with. She's a nice horse to ride. She does everything with just a touch of the hands."