Old pro Sunny Ridge delivers in Richard W. Small Stakes

Sunny Ridge reeled in Han Sense for a three-quarter length win over that one Saturday in the $100,000 Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel Park. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Bobby G in third.

The Small was one of four stakes on the card, with the City of Laurel and Safely Kept carrying incentives for upcoming Grade 1 races at Santa Anita.

Sunny Ridge ($6.80) settled in third in the early stages Saturday as Han Sense controlled the pace through fractions of 25.89 seconds for the opening quarter, 50.91 for the half-mile, and 1:16.24 for six furlongs. Jockey Trevor McCarthy angled Sunny Ridge off the rail in the stretch and the pair went after the leader, getting past that one and going on to cover 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:51.88.

“I got a great trip,” said McCarthy, who was aboard for trainer Jason Servis.

“Jason said, ‘Just be patient and he’ll give you a turn of foot when you need it.’”

Sunny Ridge is a son of Holy Bull who races for his breeder, Dennis Drazin. He has now won 8 of 28 starts and earned $1.4 million. Sunny Ridge was winning his seventh stakes in the Small.

McCarthy was winning his second stakes on the day in the Small. He captured the first stakes on the program when Honest Mischief pushed past Chilly in Charge for a neck victory in the $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds. It was another two lengths back to Hall Pass in third.

Honest Mischief ($2.80) stalked the pace set by Rohrbacher, who was pressured through an opening quarter in 23.43 seconds before Amundson took over through a half-mile in 46.48. Honest Mischief made the lead in the later stages while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.06.

“I let him sit in the pocket and made one move with him, and it really was an exciting race,” McCarthy told publicity at Laurel.

Chad Brown trains Honest Mischief for Juddmonte Farms.

The City of Laurel was billed as a win and you're in qualifier for the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. If Honest Mischief advances to the race, his connections will also receive a $2,500 stipend toward travel costs, according to Laurel.

Honest Mischief is a son of Into Mischief and the Grade 1-winning mare Honest Lady, who has produced a Grade 1 winner in First Defence. Honest Mischief was winning his first stakes in the City of Laurel and overall is 3 for 6 with earnings of $191,800.

Vault overtook lone speed Jehozacat in the stretch and thundered home to a 3 1/2-length win over that one in the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Trolley Ride in third.

Vault ($4.60) covered the about 1 1/16-mile distance on a fast track in 1:44.06. Julio Hernandez was aboard for trainer Bernie Houghton. Vault, who defeated older rivals, is a daughter of Jump Start.

“She’s a nice, promising 3-year-old filly and we wanted to give her a shot,” Houghton told publicity. “She’s going to go back to Florida now for a couple months and have a little rest.”

Vault races for Barlar LLC.

Needs Supervision ($6) closed with authority for a 3 1/4-length win over Hey Mamaluke in the $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Victim of Love in third.

Needs Supervision covered seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.51. Feargal Lynch was aboard for trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer.

The Safely Kept was billed as a win and you're in qualifier for the Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, and the race also carried a $2,500 stipend toward travel expenses to Southern California.

Needs Supervision is a daughter of Paynter who races for the partnership of Howling Pigeon Farms, Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Madaket Stables. She has now won 4 of 8 starts and $253,030. Needs Supervision was winning her second career stakes race in the Safely Kept.