Old Homestead moves on to Concern following disappointing race
Old Homestead looks to rebound from his first defeat when he starts as one of the favorites Saturday in Laurel Park’s $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.
The Concern shares top billing with the $100,000 Caesar’s Wish for fillies and mares at one mile.
Trained by Brett Brinkman, Old Homestead won his first three starts gate to wire, including Keeneland’s Lafayette Stakes on April 8. Sent off at 2-1 in the Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico on Preakness Day, Old Homestead was outsprinted for the first time and gradually faded to finish fifth of eight.
Old Homestead has worked three times since, including a bullet five-eighths.
Nimitz Class seeks his fourth consecutive victory for trainer Bruce Kravets, who feels the addition of blinkers has sparked improvement.
“In his first couple of races, he ran green,” Kravets said. “We put blinkers on and he’s figuring things out.”
Nimitz Class rallied to grab the Danzig for statebreds on June 3 at Penn National.
“It takes a couple of strides for him to get his feet underneath him,” Kravets said.
Although Nimitz Class has yet to race beyond six furlongs, Kravets feels the additional distance is “better suited for him than three-quarters.”
Despite breaking slowly and rallying over a speed-friendly track, Alottahope still finished ahead of Old Homestead in the Chick Lang.
“I think that was one of his best races ever,” trainer Jerry Robb said.
Alottahope made the lead in his subsequent start, a second-level allowance with a $35,000 claiming option against older horses on turf, but Robb believes his charge is better from off the pace.
Defend has won 3 of 4, with his only defeat coming in the Grade 1 Hopeful.
Scaramouche, a perfect 3 for 3 with Lasix, is an expected pace presence. Tops the Chart also is entered.
Caesar’s Wish
A stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles, The Grass Is Blue surprised trainer Graham Motion when winning her first start of 2022, an off-turf allowance with a $50,000 claiming option at five furlongs May 14 at Pimlico.
“I was concerned about running her that short,” Motion said. “I think she’ll like the mile.”
Hybrid Eclipse looks like a strong threat for Brittany Russell following a third-place effort in Delaware’s Obeah Stakes on June 8. She’s won 2 of 3 starts at Laurel.
Trainer Michelle Hemingway and Nick Sallusto, racing manager for Holly Hill Stables, entered both Edie Meeny Miny Mo and Wholebodemeister but confirmed that the former is more likely to run Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Wholebodemeister, a Grade 2 winner at Gulfstream Park last year, has been plagued by poor luck. First, she injured a tendon. After a third-place finish in her return, she reared up in the gate and was scratched from the Serena’s Song on May 8 at Monmouth.
Wholebodemeister finished last of seven in the Lady’s Secret at 1 1/16 miles on June 11. Sallusto mentioned that Wholebodemeister should appreciate cutting back to one turn.
Glowsity, Bess, Big Cheeks, and Stand for the Flag complete the field.