Laurel: Wildcat Glory looks tough in turf sprint
Wildcat Glory raced on dirt for the first nine races of his career, including five times for claiming tags between $12,500 and $25,000. Since switching to grass in May, however, Wildcat Glory has been in the top three in 3 of 5 races and looks like the most likely winner in a first-level allowance for turf sprinters that highlights the first Tuesday program of the fall meet at Laurel Park.
The featured eighth race, a $29,000 allowance scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass, attacted 18 horses. There are two main-track-only entrants and six also-eligibles.
With no rain in the forecast for central Maryland until Wednesday, Wildcat Glory will draw into the main body of the field with the scratch of the two main-track-only runners.
A 4-year-old trained by 81-year-old Eddie Gaudet, Wildcat Glorye won a $25,000 conditioned claimer in his second start on grass, then was second in a first-level allowance at Monmouth Park in early August and fourth, beaten just a half-length, at the same level three weeks later. His three most recent Beyer Speed Figures (75-80-74) are close to the par of 80 for a first-level allowance at Laurel.
Monteagle, Usmc Semper Fi, and A Keeper Partner all step up to allowance company following wins for a claiming tag. The most intriguing of that trio is Monteagle, a 3-year-old from the barn of Jack Fisher, who is primarily a trainer of steeplechase horses. In fact, Monteagle is the only horse Fisher has started in a turf sprint the past five years, but he is 2 for 3 in that category, with wins at Belmont Park and Saratoga.
◗ Rapid Redux, the 5-year-old gelding who has won 17 consecutive races, was an early scratch from Tuesday’s program. Trainer David Wells entered Rapid Redux for the main track only in a starter allowance on turf, but with no rain in the forecast, the horse was scratched.
Owner Robert Cole said that Rapid Redux will likely be entered in a $25,000, 1 1/8-mile starter allowance at Charles Town on Friday and a $17,000 starter allowance at one mile at Laurel on Saturday. Laurel also has a five-furlong starter allowance in its condition book for Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Rapid Redux is two wins away from the North American record shared by Zenyatta and Peppers Pride.