Rescheduled Christmastide program features six stakes
Frigid temperatures wreaked havoc at tracks throughout the Mid-Atlantic the past week, forcing cancellations at Parx and Laurel Park.
Racing returns to Maryland with the Christmastide program, featuring six $100,000 stakes. Originally earmarked for Monday, the entire card was transferred to Friday.
Fearing the weather, several trainers cross-entered at different tracks, but Jamie Ness unwittingly stayed one step ahead of Mother Nature with Maryland Million Classic winner Ournationonparade, one of the contenders in the Robert T. Manfuso for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles.
Ournationonparade was also entered in Wednesday’s Kris Kringle at Parx, a race postponed due to unsafe track conditions.
“I had been training at Parx,” Ness said. “Anticipating we were going to run Monday, I shipped him to Laurel about an hour before they called it.”
Ournationonparade won the Maryland Million Classic at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 22, then finished second in the Richard Small on Nov. 26, also at 1 1/8 miles. In the Small, Ournationonparade held a stretch lead before being run down by Armando R.
“His [sheet] number came back better than the day he won,” Ness said. “A mile and an eighth might be stretching his distance.”
There was never any doubt as to where Armando R would race. Trained by Damon Dilodovico for owner Ronald Cuneo, Armando R, 6, was claimed for $16,000 out of a winning effort on Nov. 28, 2021. He has nabbed four of 10 races for his connections, including three of his last four.
Dismissed at 10-1 in the Small, Armando R stayed a bit closer to the leaders than usual, swung to the outside and grinded them down. He earned a career best 95 Beyer.
Cordmaker won four consecutive stakes between Dec. 26, 2021, and Feb. 19, 2022, including the Small, Manfuso, and the Grade 3 General George. He passed the million-dollar mark in earnings when third in the 2022 Small, his second start following a lengthy layoff.
Trainer Butch Reid entered Ridin With Biden and Eloquist, but he mentioned Wednesday morning that he is “leaning on running” the former in Saturday’s Queens County at Aqueduct while Eloquist will either start in the Manfuso or an upcoming stakes at Parx.
Eloquist captured Aqueduct’s Discovery, restricted to 3-year-olds, in gate-to-wire fashion on Nov. 27. Reid believes Eloquist became a “new horse” after being gelded but mentioned that his training schedule at Parx has been altered due to frozen track conditions.
Plot the Dots received a career-best 95 Beyer when winning for a $55,000 claiming option on Nov. 24. It was his second start since being claimed by Lynn Cash.
“You’ve got to give him time in between,” said Cash, who noted that Plot the Dots bled “just a hair” in his last race. “We were planning on running him in a three-other-than,” Cash said. “But we had to clean out his lungs in the salt room.”
Southern District and Monday Morning Qb have been withdrawn, per Cash. Ain’t Da Beer Cold escapes the also-eligible list.
Heft Stakes
Brittany Russell trains exciting 2-year-old Post Time, but she also has the morning-line favorite in the Heft, which is for juveniles at seven furlongs.
Prince of Jericho was beaten by Post Time in his Oct. 7 debut, then reeled off two consecutive wins by a combined 17 lengths.
“He was never super flashy working,” Russell said. “He seemed like a racehorse, under the radar. He wasn’t 100 percent cranked the first time, and that seems like the right move because he moved forward.”
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Prince of Jericho will be tested by Midnight Trouble, recently a troubled fifth in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. Other strong contenders include Full Moon Madness, who finished second in the Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Nashua on Nov. 6, and We Dont Need Roads, purchased for $100,000 last month at Timonium after winning a first-level allowance at Delaware on Nov. 4.
Gin Talking Stakes
Trainer Charlie Baker doesn’t mind the extra time unbeaten Malibu Moonshine received after the Christmastide card was delayed. The unbeaten juvenile filly breaks from the rail in the seven-furlong Gin Talking.
“She went a little bit faster than I wanted,” Baker said noting a bullet half-mile breeze at Belmont Park on Nov. 20. “So, it was great the race got pushed back a little bit so that didn’t hurt.”
Malibu Moonshine faces a challenge from Give Me Kisses, a $400,000 daughter of Street Sense and graded winner Agave Kiss going out for Todd Pletcher. Give Me Kisses captured her debut at Aqueduct on Nov. 20.
Stonewall Star went gate-to-wire in the Key Cents for New York-breds at Aqueduct on Nov. 20 and looks like the speed under jockey Manny Franco.
Tappin Josie was claimed by Russell for $62,500 out of a winning effort on Nov. 14. She is still green, drifting inward in the stretch of some of her races. Russell said that she has trained in a special bridle to help with the issue.
Willa On the Move Stakes
Fille d’Esprit has won 12 of 23 starts and seeks her third consecutive stakes score as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Trained by John Robb, Fille d’Esprit breaks from the rail. She overcame the inside grabbing the Politely for Maryland-sired runners at Laurel Nov. 25.
Stakes winner Swayin to and Fro, Politely runner-up Juror Number Four, and 2020 Willa On the Move winner Dontletsweetfoolya look like logical threats. Union Lake will scratch, per trainer John Terranova.
Dave’s Friend Stakes
Grade 3-placed in each of his last two starts in New York, Factor It In won the Challedon for Maryland-sired runners here Oct. 1 and looks like a strong contender in the Dave’s Friend for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs.
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Jaxon Traveler finished behind Factor It In in both the Bold Ruler and Fall Highweight but has more tactical speed and will try to get the jump on Factor It In.
Threes Over Deuces, winless since his Dave’s Friend score in 2021, is a consistent sort that usually gives an honest effort.
Beren is “doubtful” to start, per Reid. Cash said Going to the Lead will scratch.
Carousel Stakes
Hybrid Eclipse beat three of these rivals in last month’s Thirty Eight Go Go, and is one of the horses to beat in the Carousel for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
Out of Sorts, Intrepid Dream, and Cover Version are intriguing new faces. Malibu Beauty was against the race flow last time, but might make an easier lead here.
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