Lebda wins Private Terms to give Gonzalez a stakes double

Trainer Claudio Gonzalez completed an easy-looking sweep of the $100,000 stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park on Saturday with Lebda, who rolled home unchallenged in the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms. Gonzalez, the leading trainer in Maryland, had earlier sent out the filly Princess Cadey for a seven-length victory in the Beyond the Wire.

The Private Terms was Lebda’s second consecutive stakes win at Laurel. Last month, he set quick fractions, opened up a big lead, and held on for a three-quarter-length score in the one-mile Miracle Wood. On Saturday in the two-turn Private Terms, Lebda relaxed off a runaway front-runner, advanced when given his cue by jockey Alex Cintron, and won by 4 1/4 lengths.

“I knew my horse didn’t have to be on the lead,” Cintron said. “When I asked him, he took off for me. He is one of the best horses I have ridden.”

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Took Charge, who was stretching out from six furlongs, sprinted off to a sizable early lead while Cintron rated Lebda, the even-money favorite. Big City Bob, who was making his first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Champagne last October, was positioned to the outside of Lebda.

Nearing the far turn, Lebda and Big City Bob began to advance toward the leader. Cintron had a handful of horse as he moved up outside Took Charge and then took command in upper stretch and pulled away.

Lebda, who races for Euro Stable, returned $4.20 to win. He covered the distance in 1:44.87

My Friends Beer finished willingly to be second at 21-1, a half-length ahead of Mine Not Mine in third.

Took Charge weakened to finish fourth. Big City Bob tired in the final quarter-mile and ended up fifth in the six-horse field.

► Gonzalez and Cintron teamed up a half-hour later to win a starter-allowance in the final race of the day with Galerio. They each won three races Saturday.

Harrison Johnson Memorial: Senior Investment wins third straight

Senior Investment has a lot of back class and trainer Scott Lake has brought it to the fore since claiming him for $50,000 in September. On Saturday, in the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial, Senior Investment won his third straight race in determined fashion.

As a 3-year-old in 2017, Senior Investment won the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland and finished third in the Preakness. But after going 3 for 6 to begin his career, he went though a long dry spell, winning only once in his next 22 races.

Lake claimed Senior Investment at Delaware Park on behalf of Richard Malouf. After three losses for his new connections, the 6-year-old regained his mojo and on Saturday won his first stakes since the Lexington. He is now 7 for 31 with earnings of more than $700,000.

Jockey Manny Esquivel rode a masterful race in the 1 1/8-mile Johnson. He put Senior Investment on the lead from post 1 and allowed his mount to gallop along through tortoise-like splits of 25.58 seconds, 50.96, and 1:15.96.

Alwaysmining, the 4-5 favorite, attended the pace outside Senior Investment but his rider, Julian Pimentel, also was content with the early fractions. The two leaders began to battle on the far turn but Senior Investment refused to fold and turned back Alwaysmining in midstretch and drew off to a five-length victory.

“He broke really sharp and we were walking the first part of the race,” said Esquivel, who has been aboard for Senior Investment’s three recent wins. “He’s such a professional.”

Name Changer, who was forwardly placed along the inside to the stretch wore down Alwaysmining to take second by a half-length in deep stretch.

Senior Investment, who came into the Johnson off optional-claiming and no-condition allowance wins at Parx paid $19.80. He was timed in 1:50.96 with a final furlong in 12.09 seconds.