Ridin With Biden, Magic Michael rematched in Deputed Testamony

Ridin With Biden and Magic Michael meet for a second consecutive race in Laurel’s $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles.

The Deputed Testamony headlines Saturday’s card along with four $75,000 stakes restricted to Maryland-bred or -sired runners.

Ridin With Biden came into his own last summer with a runner-up effort in the Dwyer at Belmont on July 5 followed by a fourth-place finish in the Smarty Jones at Parx on Aug. 24. Winless in his final three starts of 2021, Ridin With Biden was gelded over the winter, trainer Butch Reid said.

“He was a bad actor, a stall walker,” Reid said. “We had a tough time keeping weight on him. The castration settled him down.”

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Ridin With Biden hit the board in his first two starts of 2022, both sprints, then scored a facile victory in non-winners-of-three allowance at Delaware going a mile and 70 yards on June 17. That race set him up for Delaware’s Battery Park on July 9, and Ridin With Biden finished a game second to millionaire Tax.

Reid said Ridin With Biden will be close to the pace breaking from the rail on Saturday. Reid said that though the gelding is training well, he is concerned about running him back on three weeks’ rest.

Magic Michael finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Ridin With Biden when third in the Battery Park. The Deputed Testamony will be his third race of 2022 after he compiled a 7-for-12 record last year.

“He had a hard campaign,” said trainer Jamie Ness. “We’re pointing for a bigger race that we won last year, the Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles.”

Ness said Magic Michael is a “one-paced grinder” and believes the sweeping turns at Laurel will be conducive to his running style.

Commandeer drops in class after finishing far back at Gulfstream in both the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29 and the Ghostzapper on April 2. He was entered in a Delaware allowance on May 25, but trainer James Toner scratched him due to a bruised foot.

Toner was surprised Commandeer was close to the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Ghostzapper and would like him to “drop in behind the speed and make a run.”

Completing the field are Tappin Cat, Armando R, Plot the Dots, and Treasure Trove.

Star de Naskra Stakes

Can Super Love replace recently the retired Laki as trainer Damon Dilodovico’s stable star? The colt seems on his way after beginning his career with three victories.

Super Love gets his first stakes test when he faces six 3-year-olds in the Star de Naskra at seven furlongs.

Super Love began his career with a victory in a maiden race in April, and went on to win two allowance races. All three of his races came sprinting at Laurel under Horacio Karamanos, who will be aboard Saturday.

“He’s a big, beautiful animal,” Dilodovico said. “Super powerful. Early on, I didn’t feel like I was getting everything. In his first two wins, Horacio commented that he had to work hard to get away from the competition. Last time, he decided to go ahead with it.”

The result was an 8 3/4-length victory going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Dilodovico believes the key to this race is whether Super Love duels for the lead with Al Loves Josie, who breaks from his outside.

“It would be different if we were outside,” Dilodovico said. “I’ll let Horacio play the break.”

John Robb saddles Al Loves Josie and stakes-placed Alottahope. Alottahope finished fifth and last going seven furlongs in the Concern at Laurel on July 2. He lacked room in the stretch in that race and was beaten 3 3/4 lengths.

Al Loves Josie wired a first-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option over a sloppy six furlongs at Laurel on July 9.

“If he runs like he did last time, he could be the horse to beat,” Robb said.

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Ness trains Uncle Irish, who cuts back in distance after 10 efforts going a mile or longer.

“I think it’s much too short for him,” Ness said. “Maybe we’ll get a speed duel and run them down.”

Ben’s Cat Stakes

Jaxon Traveler won the Maryland Sprint on dirt at Pimlico on May 21, and he hopes to transfer that form to turf when he faces a salty Grateful Bred in the Ben’s Cat for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Jaxon Traveler is no stranger to turf, having run third in stakes in his two grass outings. His speed is a dangerous weapon.

Grateful Bred enters the Ben’s Cat off a 96 Beyer performance in the Van Clief at Colonial on July 18. He ran second, beaten a head, in that 5 1/2-furlong turf race.

Matta, who finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Grateful Bred in third in the Van Clief, looms a stretch threat.

◗ Divine Huntress was recently second to one of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country when she finished 6 1/4 lengths behind Matareya in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont. She projects as a short price in the Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Royal Whisper might pose the best chance for an upset.

◗ Can the Queen cuts back from 1 1/16 miles to her preferred sprint distance when she starts as a main contender in the Jameela for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. She’ll face competition from Spun Glass, recently fifth in the Goldwood at Monmouth.