Plans in flux for New York horses excluded from Laurel stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – New York horsemen who couldn’t ship their horses to Maryland for Saturday’s two graded sprint stakes at Laurel are considering their options for next starts for their horses.

After a barn at Belmont Park was placed under quarantine Friday due to a case of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, Laurel Park prohibited New York-based horses from shipping to that track.

Trainer Robert Ribaudo, who had for months been planning to run Quezon in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie, said the multiple New York-bred stakes-winning mare will be considered for the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational here March 10 or the $100,000 Correction on March 17. The Heavenly Prize is run at a mile, while the Correction is run at six furlongs.

“We can choose one of those, depending on who goes where,” Ribaudo said

Whichever race she runs in, it will likely be the final start of her career before she is bred to Gun Runner this spring.

Other New York horses who will have to look elsewhere for a race include Divine Miss Grey, Boule, Bishop’s Pond, and Highway Star.

Highway Star and Bishop’s Pond could be considered for the Heavenly Prize. Trainer Danny Gargan said he wasn’t sure what might be next for Divine Miss Grey, though she is eligible for several spots on the March 31 Claiming Championships card.

Do Share and Great Stuff both had to scratch out of the General George. Trainer Linda Rice said that Do Share, winner of the Gravesend on Dec. 23, would be pointed to the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap here March 10. On Monday, Do Share worked a solid five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Belmont Park.