Notapradaprice continues run of good form with All Along victory
Notapradaprice was 25-1 when she rose from the allowance ranks to win the Grade 3 Dr. James A. Penny Stakes in July at Parx Racing, but that performance was no fluke. Off two months, Notapradaprice just missed in a $100,000 Stakes race Sept. 2 at Parx and on Saturday at Laurel scored a front-running half-length victory in the $150,000 All Along Stakes.
Notapradaprice and jockey Jorge Ruiz crossed over from post 9 to open a clear early lead in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares, running unopposed through a half-mile in a modest 48.22 seconds. Not in Jeopardy, a 40-1 shot, ranged up to apply pressure around the far turn but by then Ruiz and his mount had saved plenty for the homestretch. Notapradaprice began edging away from Not in Jeopardy at the furlong grounds and got to the wire before the deep closers could get to her.
Chief among that group was 5-2 favorite Colonia, who was 10th with a quarter-mile to run but stormed home to win a photo for second over Not in Jeopardy and Lift Up, who also closed from the tail of the field with good energy.
Notapradaprice paid $11.20 to win and stopped the timer in 1:41.27 for 1 1/16 miles on firm turf.
John Servis trains Notapradaprice for Main Line Racing. The 5-year-old mare, who won for the eighth time in 26 starts, is by Paddy O’Prado out of Brenda’s Slew, by Straight Man.
So Street coasts in Howard County
Odds-on favorite So Street went to the lead and dominated the $100,000 Howard County Stakes, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, as jockey Trevor McCarthy won his fifth race on the Saturday card at Laurel while booting home his fourth stakes winner.
McCarthy earlier rode Tiz He the One to victory in the $75,000 Challedon, Our Super Freak in the $75,000 Shine Again, and Miss J McKay in the $100,000 Anne Arundel County.
Miss J McKay won that race for 2-year-old fillies geared down late with a time of 1:02.49 for 5 ½ furlongs on turf. So Street also coasted to the wire but needed 1:03.55 to complete the same distance.
So Street had most recently finished second in a $100,000 stakes at Colonial Downs behind first-time starter Four Wheel Drive, who could run in the Futurity at Belmont and has the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint as a goal.
No such rival opposed So Street on Saturday, who had this race sewn up after running a half-mile in 44.95 seconds.
So Street ($3.80) is trained by Jamie Ness for Troy Johnson and Charles Lo, and is a gelded Maryland-bred son of Street Magician and So Vain, by Mr. Greeley.