Maximus Angelicus back to a route in Main Line Stakes
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The two stakes on Tuesday at Parx Racing are for open company. However, Pennsylvania-breds factor prominently in the pair of $75,000 stakes for 3-year-olds.
Pennsylvania-bred Maximus Angelicus is the second choice on the morning line for the Main Line Stakes for fillies. One race later, statebred stablemate Baby Dukes, already stakes-placed against open company, goes in the City of Brotherly Love Stakes. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles.
Maximus Angelicus, by Kentucky stallion Maximus Mischief, was bred by LC Racing – which now campaigns her with Wellesley Stable – and trainer Butch Reid Jr. LC Racing and Reid also campaigned the filly’s dam, Pennsylvania-bred Disco Rose, who earned nearly $450,000 and was Grade 2-placed.
Maximus Angelicus has won 2 of 8 starts, all at Parx. She is coming off an allowance/optional-claiming win, although that was a sprint. Her only try at a mile and 70 yards resulted in a 12-length maiden win with a career-high 68 Beyer Speed Figure. The filly prefers to be forwardly placed and is well drawn on the rail to flash her speed.
Also well drawn for her style is morning-line favorite Diriyah, on the outside in the small field of six where she can get a tracking trip. The filly has made both her starts in off-the-turf races at a mile and 70 yards at Horseshoe Indianapolis, winning her second start by a length with a 72 Beyer.
The field also includes Beautiful Blome, winner of the White Clay Creek Stakes at a mile in October at Delaware Park; and Hollywood Beauty, winner of the seven-furlong Parx Future Stars Filly Division at seven furlongs and then third in the Ruthless at Aqueduct. Hollywood Beauty earned a 76 Beyer in the Future Stars, the best figure in this field.
Baby Dukes, also by Maximus Mischief, is owned by LC Racing and Cash is King Stable and trained by Reid. The connections purchased him at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale. In his only try beyond a sprint, he was third in the Rocky Run Stakes going a mile at Delaware. He then was third in the Pennsylvania Nursery at seven furlongs and fifth in the Parx Future Stars – won by stablemate Global Steve, who he faces again here.
The morning-line favorite in the field of eight is McAfee, a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna. In two career starts, McAfee won a maiden and was second in an allowance at Churchill Downs in November. He was entered and expected to run in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct after having twice been scratched by New York veterinarians this winter.
The second choice on the morning line is Harrigan, who has won both his career starts at Parx, including an allowance at a mile and 70 yards last out. If McAfee scratches, Harrigan could be left as a vulnerable favorite unless he takes a step forward. His career-high Beyer is a 63, which has been matched or exceeded by Baby Dukes, Global Steve, and Analog Jones.
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