Laurel: Small's longer shot wins

Of the two fillies trainer Dickie Small ran in the $50,000 Squan Song Stakes at Laurel Park, bettors much preferred Feelin' the Breeze at 3-1 and largely ignored her uncoupled stablemate, Magical Broad, at 10-1.

Public opinion was dead wrong. Although Magical Broad was winless in five starts since July and fell down over another horse two races ago, she had the best closing kick in the seven-furlong Squan Song and rallied to overtake 5-2 favorite Starleena by 3 1/4 lengths.

Feelin' the Breeze, second choice in the field of nine Maryland-bred fillies and mares, finished fifth.

The 3-year-old Magical Broad ($23.20) was scratched out of an optional claiming race on Thursday - a race won by yet another Small-trained filly, Dynamic Deputy - in favor of the Squan Song, a race restricted to female statebreds who had never won a stakes.

"We took a stab with her, entering this race," Small admitted. "After I looked at the field I thought she might be okay here."

Horacio Karamanos, who picked up the mount on race day, guided Magical Broad from fourth with a half-mile remaining to run down Starleena in deep stretch. The winning time over a fast track was 1:26.55.

Starleena held on for second, a length in front of Experts Only.

It was Magical Broad's fourth win in 19 starts, but her first since July 4 at Colonial Downs. She had hinted at her ability by finishing second in the one-mile Twixt Stakes at Laurel in early September.