‘Maryland Strong' program will reward wet-surface skills

The versatile Jaxon Traveler returns to dirt in Saturday’s $75,000 Star de Naskra for Maryland-bred or -sired 3-year-olds traveling six furlongs at Pimlico.

The Star de Naskra is one of four restricted stakes on the 10-race “Maryland Strong” program and will likely be contested over wet going. The National Weather Service has predicted various degrees of precipitation in the Baltimore area through the weekend.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner, Jaxon Traveler was named Maryland-bred champion juvenile colt of 2020 after winning all three of his starts including the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity.

The son of Munnings has exclusively faced open company this year, with a victory in the $200,000 Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn the seasonal highlight. Jaxon Traveler also earned Grade 3 placings on turf and dirt plus a stakes placing on Woodbine’s Tapeta.

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Jaxon Traveler recently finished third in Saratoga’s Quick Call behind the very promising turf sprinter Golden Pal. “He ran big,” said Terry Finley, CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds. “We would have been clearly second if we didn’t engage that horse. We ran to win. Sometimes when that happens, when you know you’re running up against a buzzsaw, you’re going to be third or fourth instead of second.”

Jaxon Traveler has good tactical speed and Finley stated it would be “ideal” if Jaxon Traveler sat just off expected pacesetter Cry No More.

Alwaysinahurry, fifth behind Jaxon Traveler in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity, returned from a six-month layoff in June and has made two starts this year. He ran fourth fourth over a sloppy track in a starter-allowance sprint at Delaware in his return. “The biggest challenge was finding a race for him,” trainer Dale Capuano said. “When he ran at Delaware, that was a funny race where he was the only 3-year-old and it was a tough race.”

Alwaysinahurry then defeated Grade 3 winner Mighty Mischief in the Concern at Pimlico on July 4.

Capuano also entered Kenny Had a Notion in the Star de Naskra, but said he will likely scratch to run at Colonial.

Exculpatory has arguably the most upside in the field. The Mineshaft colt earned an 88 Beyer winning a handicap sprint at Colonial a month ago. He was on the lead for most of that race, but has also come from behind.

Miss Disco Stakes

Street Lute, Maryland’s 2-year-old filly champion last year, looms a prohibitive favorite against four 3-year-old fillies in the $75,000 Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. She comes off a sixth-place finish in a Virginia-bred stakes sprint on the turf at Colonial Downs. The Street Magician filly should relish switching back to dirt. In her most recent dirt appearance, she missed the break in the Stormy Blues in June at Pimlico, raced wide, and still won by a half-length.

Malibu Beauty might be the one to catch for trainer Gary Capuano. She enters the Miss Disco following a four-length triumph in a two-other-than allowance. In that race, she controlled the pace against three overmatched rivals.

My My Girl’s last race, a victory over restricted allowance foes, gives her an upset chance.

Find Stakes

Rain of shine, Trifor Gold figures a strong pace factor in the $75,000 Find Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Tritap gelding earned his first grass victory taking the $50,000 Sussex at Delaware on July 8.

“All along, I liked him on turf,” trainer Mark Shuman said. “It was a boggy soft turf the other two times I tried him on it.”

Prior to the Sussex, Triforgold just missed in an off-turf race at Pimlico. He received a career-high 91 Beyer in that race.

Trifor Gold drew the rail post for the Find, and Shuman believes the gelding is “not rateable” when inside. “It’s kind of forcing our hand from the rail,” he said.

Cannon’s Roar, second to Trifor Gold in the Sussex, should be tough if this race remains on turf. He was third against open stakes company going a mile and 70 yards on turf at Mountaineer two weeks ago. Cannon’s Roar made the first run into a solid pace only to be overhauled by favorites Logical Myth and Monarchs Glen.

“It’s a shame we hadn’t been able to get any races for him to fill here, so we had to take him all the way to Mountaineer,” said trainer Dale Capuano. “That was a tough race and I thought he ran as good as he could run.”

Capuano said Cannon’s Roar scratches if this race is moved to dirt.

Although Alwaysmining ran well on turf last time, trainer Cal Lynch wouldn’t mind if this race is washed off. The Stay Thirsty gelding has won 10 of 26 starts on the main track, including seven stakes. He is a proven commodity on wet going.

Cordmaker, entered main track only, becomes the horse to beat if this race is moved to the dirt.

All Brandy Stakes

Quiet Company, Kiss the Girl, and Judi Blue Eyes, the top-three finishers of a two-other-than allowance last month, square off in the $75,000 All Brandy Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Debut winner Forever Dreaming, Delaware shipper Good Life Cider, and Breviary also should factor. Artful Splatter becomes dangerous if this race is transferred to dirt.