Laurel Park: Eighttofasttocatch could spoil rivalry in Broad Brush

Lucy’s Bob Boy and Fred High have taken turns beating each other in 1 1/8-mile stakes since mid-October, and they continue their fall rivalry at the same distance Saturday at Laurel Park. But the two talented West Virginia-breds rate only as challengers to Maryland’s top older male this season, Eighttofasttocatch.

The 7-year-old Eighttofasttocatch, a dominant winner in his only two starts this fall, seeks his fourth stakes score of the year in the Broad Brush, the headliner among three stakes worth $100,000 apiece on a nine-race card. The undercard stakes, both at seven furlongs, are the Gin Talking for 2-year-old fillies and the Marylander for 2-year-olds.

Eighttofasttocatch, 12 for 25 at Laurel, won the nine-furlong Maryland Million Classic and then the one-mile Jennings Handicap three weeks ago by a combined 9 1/4 lengths. But he may face more early pressure than usual in a lineup that includes 16-time winner Lucy’s Bob Boy, former sprinter Warrioroftheroses, and Canadian-based Colleen’s Sailor, a front-running winner of his last two starts on dirt.

The 7-year-old Eighttofasttocatch must also cope with breaking from post 10, under his regular rider, Forest Boyce.

“I certainly wouldn’t have picked the outside but we will still be okay,” trainer Tim Keefe said. “He prefers the front and has become one dimensional but at the same time he has staying power. He came out of the Jennings in good condition. I am bringing him back quicker than normal but he loves this track and has never been better, so there is no reason not to run.”

Lucy’s Bob Boy and Fred High, a closer who would benefit from a hot, contested pace, will be making rare starts away from Charles Town. In his only other road trip, the 4-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy finished fifth in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. He was ninth in the $450,000 West Virginia Breeders Classic, won by Fred High, but turned the tables on Fred High when they met a month later in the A Huevo.

Fred High trains at Laurel but is 0 for 4 at his home track. He hasn’t raced locally since the fall of 2011, finishing fourth in the Maryland Million Classic and fifth in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer. Wesley Ho, who has ridden Fred High in his last five starts, said the 5-year-old gelding has improved dramatically since he was transferred to John Robb's barn this past summer.

“I rode the horse for the two other trainers who had him previously but ever since he stepped into Robb’s barn, he has been a totally difference horse," Ho said. "He has put on weight and his attitude towards running is completely different. I think he is peaking right now. We got boxed in last time out and he still made a big effort. There is plenty of pace in this race with the two favorites so I think this horse could run a really good race.”

The field also includes the two-three finishers from the $150,000 Swatara at Penn National on Thanksgiving Eve. A.P. Cino outran his 50-1 odds to finish second, a neck in front of Ponzi Scheme, who followed up his only win this season, which came in an overnight stakes at Delaware Park, by finishing a close third in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup.

The last time A.P. Cino returned on short rest, he romped by 11 lengths just five days after finishing far back on turf.

Colleen’s Sailor has primarily raced on Polytrack, but has run well all three times he has run on dirt. He finished third in last year’s Prince of Wales at Fort Erie and won his two most recent outings at Finger Lakes.

◗ Jessethemarine, who rallied from far back to upset the James Lewis at 35-1, faces Extrasexyhippzster, winner of a fast maiden race at Parx a month ago, in the Marylander. Extrasexyhippzster’s 3 1/2-length win was validated when runner-up Alex Inc. came back to win last Saturday.

◗ Respectful Wishes, a 6 1/2-length winner while making her first start in nearly two months, clashes with Mamdooha, who overcame a troubled start to crush maidens in New York, in the Gin Talking. Mamdooha’s win looks even better after runner-up Hey Kiddoo narrowly missed winning a stakes for New York-breds on Nov. 23.