Paulita wins Brookmeade; River Deep takes Bert Allen

Trainer Arnaud Delacour sent out three runners in the six-horse Brookmeade Stakes at Laurel Park on Sunday and took down the trifecta with Paulita, Well Blessed, and Armoire. The Brookmeade was the last of four $75,000 Virginia-bred or -sired stakes on the card.

The four Sunday stakes were scheduled to be run on turf, but soggy weather forced them to a sloppy main track.

Well Blessed set an uncontested pace in the 1 1/8-mile Brookmeade and only grudgingly gave way in the stretch to even-money favorite Paulita, who took over in midstretch and edged away to a 1 1/4-length victory under Jorge Vargas Jr. Armoire, a 5-year-old who was making her first start on the main track, lacked her usual kick and finished third, 8 1/2 lengths behind Well Blessed.

Paulita, who was making only her third start for Delacour, won the off-the-turf William M. Backer over Virginia-restricted company at Laurel in August. She had since finished third on turf in a first-level optional-claiming race at Monmouth Park.

A 3-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy, Paulita is owned by Hat Creek Racing. She paid $4.20 and was timed in 1:52.83.

"She has got tactical speed, and she used it very well today," Delacour said.

The Delacour $2 exacta with 6-1 Well Blessed paid $20.80. The $1 trifecta returned $19.90.

Well Blessed, a 5-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, and Armoire, by Artie Schiller, are both owned and were bred in Virginia by Bertram and Diana Firestone.

Bert Allen: River Deep cruises

River Deep finished fourth in the first of three Virginia-bred distance stakes run at Laurel Park since June and then won the final two races after they were taken off the turf and switched to the main track.

In the 1 1/8-mile Bert Allen on Sunday, jockey Sheldon Russell sent River Deep from the gate to reach a forward position. River Deep prompted the pace inside 10-1 Runninginthevale, took over on the far turn, and then galloped home over the sloppy track to score by 8 1/2 easy lengths.

The win was the second in a $75,000 stakes on Sunday for Russell, who won the Punch Line three races earlier on Elusive Mischief.

Russell was aboard River Deep for his fourth-place finish in the Edward Evans in June and his 7 1/4-length victory in the Hansel in August.

"He's just a forward-going horse," Russell said. "Turf or dirt, it doesn’t matter to him. I was very happy when they switched the race to the dirt today because I knew it would be easier."

River Deep was bred in Virginia and is owned by the Morgan's Ford Farm of Wayne and Susan Chatfield-Taylor. The 4-year-old son of Arch is trained by Phil Schoenthal. He paid $3.40 in the seven-horse field and was timed in 1:51.34.

Runninginthevale held second by a half-length over Vincent Van Gogo.

River Deep is now 6 for 17. The Bert Allen is his second stakes win.

Punch Line: Elusive Mischief romps

Elusive Mischief, making his first start in Virginia-restricted company, romped in the $75,000 Punch Line, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint.

Elusive Mischief, who was making his first start for trainer Ian Wilkes and Lothenbach Stables, was coming off a third-place finish in the Charlie Barley Stakes over a mile on turf at Woodbine.

On Sunday, he vied for the early lead outside Homespun Hero, drew clear on the far turn, then widened his advantage in the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths while not asked for his best in the final sixteenth by Russell.

Elusive Triumph paid $5 in the scratch-shortened field of five. He was timed in 1:03.37. Divine Interventio, who was sluggish early, rallied to finish second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Homespun Hero.

Elusive Triumph, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, improved his record to 3-1-1 from seven starts.

Oakley: Altamura sweeps, injured

Altamura completed a sweep of the three sprint stakes for Virginia-bred or -sired fillies and mares at Laurel this year by turning back two different challenges on the lead and then drawing clear in midstretch of the 5 1/2-furlong, $75,000 Oakley. Unfortunately, she pulled up with an injury to her left hind leg and was vanned back to the stable area for X-rays.

Altamura won the M. Tyson Gilpin in June for trainer John Stephens, then was sold to Susan Moulton and transferred to trainer Wayne Catalano. She won the Camptown over a fast main track in August, then took the Oakley in the slop Sunday.

All three stakes were originally scheduled for turf, but the final two legs were taken off the grass due to wet course conditions.

Altamura, ridden by Channing Hill, won by 1 1/4 lengths and paid $3.40 in the Oakley field of five. She was timed in 1:04.89. Up Hill Battle finished second, four lengths ahead of early pace rival Virginia Fable, who was third.

Altamura, a 3-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller, is based at Churchill Downs with Catalano. She is now 4 for 6.