Ournationonparade brings career-best Beyer into Richard Small Stakes

Maryland Million Classic winner Ournationonparade seeks his fifth consecutive victory in Laurel’s Richard W. Small for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Richard W. Small is one of three $100,000 stakes on Saturday with the Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs and the City of Laurel for 3-year-olds, also at seven furlongs.

Ournationonparade earned a career-best 98 Beyer in the Maryland Million Classic, his first start since being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Jamie Ness. It also was his first race at 1 1/8 miles.

“I was fretting about the distance,” Ness said. “We had a perfect trip; everything went into place, and he performed.”

Cordmaker won this race last year and is nearing millionaire status. The 7-year-old gelding won four straight, including the Grade 3 General George on Feb. 19, before being freshened by trainer Rodney Jenkins.

“That’s the way I train,” Jenkins said about the layoff. “If a horse gives you a lot of effort, you give him something back.”

Cordmaker finished sixth, beaten 16 1/4 lengths in his return, a conditioned allowance on Nov. 4 at Laurel. Jenkins believes the horse gained fitness from the race.

Armando R rallied from off a blazing pace to capture the Japan Turf Cup, a race washed off the grass at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 1.

“We were looking at a race halfway between these two that didn’t fill, so we decided to keep him fresh,” trainer Damon Dilodovico said.

Multiple stakes-placed Thomas Shelby won his first start for David Jacobson, a conditioned allowance on Sept. 10 at Monmouth, with a 96 Beyer.

Though last of nine in the M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile on Oct. 18 at Parx Racing, Thomas Shelby is expected to make the lead here.

American d’Oro has been sensational for trainer Richard Sillaman since switching back to dirt, winning both starts by a combined 16 3/4 lengths.

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Forewarned has banked $937,283. Although winless from 10 tries at Laurel, he earned a 102 Beyer when second, beaten a nose, in the John B. Campbell here Feb. 19.

Wish for Peace, a winner in three of his last four starts against fellow 3-year-olds, also entered. Ridin With Biden and Treasure Trove will scratch, per their trainers.

Safely Kept

Divine Huntress, second in the Grade 1 Acorn, returns to the track and distance of her most recent victory in the Safely Kept.

Trained by Graham Motion, the Divining Rod filly took the state-sired Miss Disco by a nose July 30. She then finished fourth to next-out Grade 1 winner Society in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 26.

“It [Charles Town Oaks] took quite a lot out of her,” Motion said. “We decided to give her a bit of time. This is the last chance to run against 3-year-olds.”

Last Leaf classes up well. A multiple stakes winner, Last Leaf adds Lasix after placing fifth behind Wicked Halo in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Raven Run. Wicked Halo next finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Two starts back, Last Leaf squared off with champion Echo Zulu.

Half Is Enough finished second in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont during the summer. She won the off-turf Glen Cove on Oct. 14 at Aqueduct.

November Rein overcame a bump at the start and a wide trip to upset the Iroquois for New York-breds on Oct. 30 at Aqueduct.

Stakes winners Swayin to and Fro, Bazinga C, and Buy the Best join promising Vibrant Judy, Liscolvin, Sweet Gracie, Still My Babe, Noble Bid, Moody Woman, and Click to Confirm.

City of Laurel

Radical Right has spent most of his career on turf but picked up his game since being returned to dirt by trainer Dale Capuano. He recently won a second-level allowance with a $40,000 claiming option on Nov. 6 at Laurel with a career-high 94 Beyer.

“It seems like he’s better on the dirt, but it’s hard for me to tell because he doesn’t train all that great on dirt,” Capuano said. “His last two races were tremendous. I expect another big effort.”

Little Vic defeated Radical Right by 1 1/2 lengths when a pace-pressing winner of a nonwinners-of-three allowance on Oct. 20 at Delaware. Little Vic should be forwardly placed as he navigates seven furlongs for the first time.

Al Loves Josie also brings plenty of speed. A gate-to-wire winner of a state-sired allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 29, Al Loves Josie is trained by John Robb, who admits he is concerned about the extra distance.

Uncle Buddy, Nimitz Class, and Irish Boolum step up in class after winning allowance races out of town. They’ll face black-type earners Coastal Mission, Undercover Kitty, Local Motive, and Cynergy’s Star. Steinbeck and Defend also entered.

Twisted Ride will scratch.

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