Laurel: Small's pair fill the exacta

It wasn't as easy as their 2-5 odds might have indicated, but trainer Richard Small's coupled pair of Sticky and Dynamic Deputy found their way to a one-two finish in the $85,000 Maryland Racing Media Handicap at Laurel Park.

In the only previous meeting between the stablemates, Sticky finished 5 1/2 lengths in front of Dynamic Deputy here in November, but Saturday's margin was much closer. Unable to find room until midstretch, Sticky angled out near the eighth pole under jockey Jozbin Santana and passed the leaders, crossing the wire a half-length in front of Dynamic Deputy. Ridden by Luis Garcia, Dynamic Deputy had put away pacesetter Ms Louisa Quatorse entering the stretch, then dueled with eventual third-place finisher Sassy Love, who finished another half-length back.

Sticky covered the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:54.09 and pushed her record to 5 for 7. The entrymates are both 4-year-old fillies owned by Fitzhugh LLC and paid $2.80 to win.

* Two $60,000 stakes have been added to the Laurel winter meeting. The Northern Wolf Stakes for 3-year-olds and up will be contested at seven furlongs on March 18. The Snow Goose Stakes, a one-mile test for fillies and mares, will be run April 1. Earlier, Laurel had canceled this year's runnings of the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Breeders' Cup Handicap and the Grade 2 General George Breeders' Cup Handicap because of restrictions due to the equine herpesvirus outbreak in the state.