Scrap Copper redeems himself in James F. Lewis III Stakes

Scrap Copper bounced back from a stumbling start and disappointing finish in the Maryland Million Nursery by using a strong finish to win the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Owned by Kathleen Willier, Scrap Copper was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the Maryland Million Nursery but he stumbled badly at the start and was never a factor, finishing seventh. In the Lewis, he got away from the gate cleanly under jockey Trevor McCarthy and then showed composure by racing in traffic to the stretch. He finished strongly to reel in Maryland Million Nursery winner Follow the Dog and pull off to a three-quarter-length victory.

Follow the Dog ran well in defeat. Hard held off the early pace, he raced three wide on the far turn, and then opened up a sizable lead in upper stretch. He finished 7 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Fayette Warrior.

Passcode, the 7-5 favorite, moved up from between horses in the six-furlong Lewis and challenged Fayette Warrior for the lead with Follow the Dog to his outside. He tired in the stretch to finish sixth in the seven-horse field of 2-year-olds.

Scrap Copper paid $21.40 and was timed over a good track in 1:10.87. He is now 2 for 4. He won a Laurel maiden race in his debut and then closed from seventh over yielding turf to miss by a nose in the Laurel Futurity prior to the Nursery.

The Lewis was McCarthy's fourth win on the card and his third stakes score of the day.

"Turning for home I thought if he's got his stride like he does in the morning, he's going to mow them down," McCarthy said.

Scrap Copper is trained by Hamilton Smith.

"Last time he stumbled badly," Smith said. "It was a shame, but he made up for it today. We're looking forward to running him long next year."

City of Laurel: Majestic Dunhill rallies from far back

Majestic Dunhill went 3 for 9 on turf to begin his career, but trainer George Weaver switched him to the main track for the $100,000 City of Laurel and the result was his second career stakes win.

The fractions were fast in the City of Laurel, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, and that set the table for Majestic Dunhill who raced far back in last position early under jockey Feargal Lynch. Majestic Dunhill came widest of all into the stretch and then outfinished Smooth B by a half-length for the decision.

"It was an experiment to see if he could run on dirt," Lynch said. "I couldn’t really see how far back I was, but when I got him in the clear in the stretch he finished very well."

Majestic Dunhill paid $21. He covered the distance over a good track in 1:23.44.

Shane's Jewel and Sparticle set early splits of 22.27 and 44.69 seconds. Oldies But Goodies moved up along the inside to take the lead and in upper stretch was clear of the field. But the pace caught up with him and he weakened to third after six furlongs in 1:09.88, finishing a length behind Smooth B. It was another neck back to Golden Brown, who closed late to be fourth.

Old Time Revival, the 9-5 favorite in the nine-horse field, raced five wide to the stretch and then tired to finish last. Rugbyman, also 9-5, didn't get away from the gate sharply. He chased the leaders to the far turn and then tired to finish eighth.