Love Me Tender tries to nail down first stakes win in City of Laurel

Love Me Tender tries for his first stakes victory when he faces a salty group of 3-year-old sprinters Saturday in Laurel Park’s $100,000 City of Laurel at seven furlongs.

The Uncle Lino colt won his first two starts at Colonial Downs, then finished fifth in the Grade 3 Perryville on Oct. 19 at Keeneland.

“It was a very deep group of horses,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “The discussion was that that would be a great prep race to get to this because we knew this would be his last shot at straight 3-year-olds. That race showed he certainly belongs and he’s legitimate.”

Claimed for $20,000 out of his debut by owner James Wolf and trainer Anthony Farrior, Petingas Twin has cracked the exacta in 10 of 12 starts for these connections and is another looking for his initial stakes triumph. He finished second against older allowance foes in his last two races and earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure four weeks ago.

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“We thought about giving him the winter off after that last race, but he came out of it so great that we figured to give him a shot,” said Farrior, who also mentioned that he’d ideally like to see Petingas Twin sit “third – two, two and a half lengths” off the early lead.

“He doesn’t have a big turn of foot, but he’s got a grinding [gear], so I don’t want to be too far out of it.”

Lucky Jeremy, a stakes winner on both turf and dirt, returns from a summer layoff as a new gelding for Mike Maker. He earned a Grade 3 placing when third in the Sunland Derby in February.

Celtic Contender seeks his third straight victory after capturing the restricted Maryland Million Sprint on Oct. 12 despite displaying a tendency to lug inward.

Speedyness snagged the Miracle Wood in February and showed no rust when wiring a group of allowance foes in his first start after a six-month layoff. He could be the controlling speed under Jaime Rodriguez.

Winterfell, a $400,000 yearling purchase by Arrogate, won both starts after being transferred to trainer Brittany Russell. He’ll cut back to a sprint after five consecutive two-turn appearances.

Stakes winner Circle P, multiple stakes-placed Had to Have Him, Play Like a Raven, and Deposition also entered.

Safely Kept

Ellen Jay enters the $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs with a lofty reputation.

After all, she is the first starter out of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Covfefe.

Unlike her famous dam, Ellen Jay has done her best work on turf thus far. Winless from two starts on dirt, she’s won her last three races sprinting on grass, including Aqueduct’s Glen Cove on Oct. 18.

Trainer Brad Cox mentioned the Safely Kept as a goal after Ellen Jay won the Glen Cove, and the filly shows four half-mile breezes over the Belmont training track in preparation for the surface switch.

She should show good speed from the rail.

Conversely, Sheilahs Warcloud likes to rally from off the pace. Never out of the exacta from eight starts, she was a late-running second in last month’s Maryland Million Distaff.

“She just keeps knocking,” trainer Justin Nixon said. “She’ll break through, I believe, sometime and get that elusive stakes win. I skipped the Thirty Eight Go Go [on Nov. 9] trying to concentrate on the Safely Kept [against 3-year-olds]. Her last two starts came against older horses.”

Dazzling Move exits a bang-up effort when second to odds-on Nic’s Style in Aqueduct’s Pumpkin Pie on Nov. 3.

“I was surprised to run into” Nic’s Style, Trombetta said. “Quite honestly, I was surprised [that horse] didn’t find something in the Breeders’ Cup. I knew I was pretty much running for second. I was glad to get it.”

Stakes winners Roanan Goddess and Kissedbyanangel exit third-place finishes against open stakes competition. Grade 3-placed Discreet Ops, Ringy Dingy, Home Game, Don’t Tell Kelly, and Goodnightngodbless complete the field.

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