Princess Kokachin will lead the way in Primonetta Stakes
John Robb sends out the powerful uncoupled entry of Princess Kokachin and Street Lute in Saturday’s six-furlong Primonetta for fillies and mares at Laurel Park.
The Primonetta is one of five $100,000 stakes on the card along with the Native Dancer for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, the King T. Leatherbury for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, the Dahlia for fillies and mares at one mile on grass, and the Henry Clark for older males at one mile on turf.
Xavier Perez, Robb’s go-to jockey, remains with Princess Kokachin. Jaime Rodriguez lands on Street Lute.
Princess Kokachin has won 10 of 16 starts and prepped for the Primonetta with a pace-pressing allowance score going 5 1/2 furlongs.
According to Robb, Princess Kokachin “appears to be the only speed, so the plan is to put her on the lead.”
Street Lute hasn’t started since a third in the Safely Kept on Nov. 27. Robb said Street Lute had to recover from an ulcer on her eye.
Kaylasaurus finished second behind Princess Kokachin in the 5 1/2-furlong allowance race last month. David Bushey, stable manager for owner Bush Racing, believes getting back to six furlongs helps Kaylasaurus.
“I love the outside draw,” Bushey said. “I think six furlongs hits her between the eyes, and she’s the one they’re going to have to hold off late.”
Kaylasaurus ran fourth in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on Feb. 19.
Prodigy Doll finished fifth in the Barbara Fritchie. She was entered in Aqueduct’s Correction, but the race was canceled due to bad weather.
Traner Phil Schoenthal said Prodigy Doll “banged herself on the trailer on the ride home” and couldn’t re-enter when they brought the race back the following week.
Hope Has a Name and Paisley Singing also go. Cinnabunny is cross-entered in a stakes at Parx Racing on Monday.
Native Dancer
Trainer Uriah St. Lewis thinks he’s found the key to Forewarned’s recent success.
“It’s the jockey,” Dexter Haddock, St. Lewis said. “That horse always had the ability, but nobody gave him the opportunity. This kid gives him the opportunity. He keeps him close.”
Forewarned has won 2 of 5 under Haddock, including the Queens County and Excelsior at Aqueduct. Forewarned also finished a close second in the John B. Campbell on Feb. 19 at Laurel. The 7-year-old earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in the Campbell and Excelsior.
St. Lewis hopes that Forewarned runs well enough Saturday to consider sending him to the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 20.
Trainer Michael Pino is “cautiously optimistic” that Bird King’s recent win in Parx’s Washington Crossing is a good sign.
“He’s been frustrating,” Pino said. “He’s had more ability than he gives you. That was the first time he put out more than he usually does.”
Workin On a Dream shouldn’t be overlooked as the potential speed in the Native Dancer.
Rough Sea, Big Venezuela, Plot the Dots and Ain't Da Beer Cold also entered.
Dahlia
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has won 27 of 85 turf races (31 percent, $3.23 return on investment) at Laurel, and he ships in In a Hurry as a strong contender in the Dahlia.
“I think it’s a good spot,” McGaughey said. “I’ve been pointing her to this. She’s more mature and carrying more weight.”
When discussing the secret to his success at Laurel, McGaughey gave credit to jockey Forest Boyce, who rides In a Hurry on Saturday.
“We’ve had a lot of good luck with Forest,” he said. “She’s got good hands and makes the horses relax. Basically, we’ve taken good horses there.”
Out of Sorts is a late-runner that should benefit from the expected quick pace.
Traffic Song won in gate-to-wire fashion Jan. 29 at Gulfstream, then was rated and finished eighth and last in the Sand Springs there April 2. Trainer Jimmy Toner believes the filly is “one-dimensional, and trying to rate her didn’t work out.”
Also in the field are Fionnbharr, Mucha Mezquina, Coconut Cake, Foggy Dreams, Adelaide Miss, Tic Tic Tic Boom, and Deciding Vote.
King T. Leatherbury
Grade 2 winner True Valour, Maryland Million Turf Sprint hero Grateful Bred, and multiple stakes winner Battle Station are the leading contenders in the King Leatherbury.
True Valour last raced more than a year ago in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.
“He came out of the race with an injury that required surgery and quite a bit of time off,” trainer Graham Motion said. “The horse is really doing well. He acts like a 2-year-old.”
Motion noted that True Valour is “80 to 90 percent fit, but on the grass going five-eighths, you might get away with that.”
Grateful Bred has not raced since winning the Maryland Million last October. He was scratched after breaking through the gate prior to the Aqueduct Turf Sprint last November.
◗ It will be the old guard against the young lion in the Henry Clark. Field Pass, a five-time graded stakes winner closing in on $1 million in earnings, faces Chez Pierre, unbeaten in four starts and making his stakes debut.