Rocky Policy makes Jameela first turf triumph

Rocky Policy and Crabcakes went out together for the lead in the $75,000 Jameela, a six-furlong turf sprint for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares at Laurel Park on Saturday. On the far turn, Crabcakes eased back from inside Rocky Policy under jockey Forest Boyce and then tracked her to the stretch.

But Rocky Policy just kept going under Daniel Centeno and scored by one length. Crabcakes, the 8-5 favorite, finished willingly in her turf debut, but couldn't come on again. She held second by three-quarters of a length over My Sistersledge, who rallied from last in the field of seven.

It was a neck back to Riley's Choice, who came up the inside, in fourth, another neck back to Anna's Bandit in fifth, and another neck back to Misty On Pointe in sixth.

The Jameela was the third win of the day for trainer Dale Capuano and the second stakes score for Centeno, who earlier on the card had won the Ben's Cat.

Capuano claimed Rocky Policy for $32,000 in June 2016 on behalf of owner Richard Vermillion. The Jameela was Rocky Policy's first turf win from 13 tries, but she had turned in some good efforts over the surface. In June she finished second in the $100,000 Penn Ladies Dash at Penn National.

"We thought we were the speed of the race and Danny just put her out there," Capuano said.

Rocky Policy paid $7.80 and was timed in 1:08.78 after setting fractions of 22.66, 45.00, and 56.28.

Now 6, Rocky Policy is 5 for 27 in her career. The Jameela is her first stakes win.

Ben's Cat: Sonny Inspired gets up

Spartianos and Smile for Eternity went at it tooth-and-nail through crazy-fast fractions of 21.86 and 44.54 seconds in the $75,000 Ben's Cat, a six-furlong turf sprint for Maryland-bred or sired runners.

In midstretch, they were still well clear of the field but their early efforts began to take a toll and the veteran runners Sonny Inspired, Grandiflora, and English Minister started to close in. At the wire, Sonny Inspired proved three-quarters of a length the best while Grandiflora nosed out 7-5 favorite English Minister for second.

Sonny Inspired is trained by Phil Schoenthal and owned by the D Hatman Thoroughbreds of Matt Dorman. He was ridden by Daniel Centeno.

Sonny Inspired paid $19.80 as the fifth choice in the eight-horse field and was timed in 1:08.95.

Sonny Inspired, 7, is one of the first horses Schoenthal and Dorman teamed up with together.

"Phil knows how to train him," Dorman said. "It feels good he's still doing it at age 7."

Sonny Inspired is now 10 for 52 with earnings of more than $563,000.

It is only fitting Sonny Inspired won the Ben's Cat. He finished second to the legendary Maryland-bred in the 2014 running of the Mister Diz Stakes at Pimlico and third behind him in the 2015 edition of the race at Laurel.

Ben's Cat, who died of colic in July 2017, won the Mister Diz Stakes six straight years from 2010 to 2015.