Luna Belle riding high coming into Wide Country

Luna Belle seeks her third consecutive stakes victory Saturday when she goes favored in Laurel’s $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

Trainer Hamilton Smith isn’t too surprised Luna Belle ascended to the top of the local 3-year-old filly rankings.

“After she broke her maiden the way she did at Colonial, I thought she was going to be a nice filly,” Smith said.

After winning the Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship on Dec. 18, Luna Belle dominated the Xtra Heat in her seasonal debut. She won that race by six lengths and earned a career-best 79 Beyer.

Luna Belle breaks from the rail in the Wide Country. “I’m not pleased with the one-hole,” Smith admitted.

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Luna Belle likes to rally from off the pace and she’ll face two speedy foes in Beneath the Stars and Buff My Boots. Both of those horses were no match for Luna Belle in the Xtra Heat.

“She needed that race,” Buff My Boots’s trainer, John Salzman Jr., said about the Xtra Heat. “The biggest concern is the seven furlongs.”

Trainer Joseph Lee said Wednesday afternoon that he is likely to scratch Sandy’s Garden to await Monday’s Maddie May Stakes at Aqueduct.

Money's Worth was cross-entered at Parx on Tuesday, but trainer Graham Motion mentioned by text on Thursday evening that he is leaning toward running in the Wide Country.

Qualy, Moody Woman, and She Is Wisky complete the field.

Miracle Wood

Perfect Day puts his perfect record on the line when he stretches out for the first time in the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds at a one-turn mile.

Trained by Tyler Servis, Perfect Day defeated four next-out winners in his debut at Penn National on Dec. 8.

“I wasn’t planning to run there,” Servis said. “He got loose in the post parade the week before at Parx and it took them 20 minutes to catch him.”

Making his first start against winners at Parx on Jan. 18, Perfect Day scored by 8 3/4 lengths with a 74 Beyer.

The Miracle Wood will be Perfect Day’s first start past six furlongs. “I don’t have any questions about him getting the distance,” Servis added.

Conclusive, trained by Michael Trombetta, already has two route wins, although both came around two turns. He enters the Miracle Wood following a gate-to-wire victory on Jan. 2 with a 74 Beyer.

“Adding Lasix and blinkers didn’t hurt,” Trombetta said. “I love the way this horse is training.”

Trainer Jerry Robb entered two but mentioned that Alottahope will scratch. Majestic Frontier steps up off two facile victories against weaker.

“He broke his maiden as easy as can be,” Robb said. “I ran him aggressively in a one-other-than and he won that one just as easy. I’ve got to find out his level.”

Considering that Local Motive was hit in the eye by a dirt clod at Timonium over the summer, Salzman was concerned about the inside post in last month’s Spectacular Bid. Those worries proved true when Local Motive raced behind horses before finishing third.

“That dirt hit him in the face, and he still made a run. I was pleased,” said Salzman

Local Motive drew well in post 8 and can get close to the pace.

Coastal Mission, Friar Laurence, Heffner, and Maximum Impact complete the field.

John B. Campbell

Workin On a Dream was second to Cordmaker in the Richard W. Small on Nov. 27 and Robert T. Manfuso on Dec. 26, but he doesn’t have to face that rival in the $100,000 John B. Campbell for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Claimed by Robin Graham for $25,000 last winter, Workin On a Dream returned from four months away with a decisive 9 3/4-length win on Nov. 12, 15 days before his performance in the Small.

“He picked up some weight and we figured out what he likes to do,” said Graham about the layoff.

Graham was pleased with the inside post and Workin On a Dream should be forwardly placed, if not outright on the lead.

Galerio, beaten two lengths by Cordmaker in the Jennings, hit the board in 27 or 32 starts and Salzman expects the 6-year-old to give his usual solid performance.

“Without Cordmaker, it’s still a competitive race, but he’s competitive,” said Salzman. “I’d like to lay third and make a run.”

Multiple stakes winner Forewarned, Gentleman Joe, Treasure Trove, Torch of Truth, and Bobby G complete the field.

Nellie Morse

Miss Leslie and Kiss the Girl head a field of older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Nellie Morse at 1 1/16 miles.

Seven entered the Nellie Morse, but Frost Point will scratch to run Friday at Aqueduct, according to Bill Mott assistant Leana Willaford.

Miss Leslie had a three-race win streak snapped when second, beaten a neck in the Ladies at Aqueduct on Jan. 16. She finished ahead of Kiss the Girl in the Ladies as well as in the Carousel Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 26. Miss Leslie won the Carousel with Kiss the Girl third.

Smooth With a Kick, Artful Splatter, Scatrattleandroll, and Golden Plume also entered.