Toledo could hold key to Sunday card

Laurel Park has put together one of its better cards of the winter for Sunday, a program that includes three allowance or optional-claiming races and a one-mile maiden race for 3-year-olds.

Jockey Jevian Toledo could be the key to the day since he will be aboard expected favorites Nicaradalic Rocks in race 4, a first-level allowance, and Golden Glint in a second-level optional claimer that is slotted as race 8. Toledo, who won the Laurel fall riding title, also is named on Enterprising Lady, who makes her first start for trainer Jamie Ness in race 6, a second-level optional-claiming race, and the 3-year-old maiden Sicilia Mike, who could be favored in race 2.

Nicaradalic Rocks won the Maryland Million Sprint in November for trainer Kieron Magee but has had some bad luck since. He should be difficult to beat in this six-furlong race if he gets away from the gate cleanly.

In his start following the Maryland Million Sprint, Nicaradalic Rocks missed the break in the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley and then never got untracked over a muddy track, finishing seventh. He was second in an allowance race in his next start to Saratoga Heater, who was winning for the third straight time.

In his most recent race, Nicaradalic Rocks was bumped solidly at the break and was slow to get into stride. He finished fifth in the slop. He has better early speed than he has shown recently.

In race 8, Golden Glint has won two of his last three starts while entered for the optional claiming price of $32,000 in second-level races. Trainer Mary Eppler has him entered for the same price Sunday, and he will be well backed.

Kaitain also figures to be a top contender in the 1 1/16-mile race. Trained by Katherine Voss, he was second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Golden Glint, two starts back. Most recently, he finished third to one of the best horses on the grounds, John Jones, in the statebred Jennings Stakes. He missed second by a head that day to Rockinn On Bye.

Scorch was no match in the slop for runaway winner Afleet Willy while making his first start in 11 months in late December. He has worked twice since over the Tapeta track at trainer Michael Dickinson's training facility and could take a major step forward Sunday.

Race 6, a second-level optional-claiming race for fillies and mares at a mile, is one of the tougher races to handicap on the card.

Aurora Racing has transferred Enterprising Lady from Benny Feliciano to Ness, who has shipped her north from Tampa Bay Downs, where she finished 10th last out in a one-mile turf race. Ness moves her back to the dirt Sunday and has entered her for the optional claiming price of $32,000.

Prior to her Tampa race, Enterprising Lady had won two allowance races at Thistledown for Feliciano.

In race 2, trainer Greg Sacco will run Sicilia Mike back on eight days’ rest and add blinkers to his equipment. Sicilia Mike has five seconds from six starts in New York-bred maiden company. He will be turning back from a pair of two-turn races in this one-mile maiden race and looks well spotted to win.

The unknown quantities in the race are a pair of first-time starters who will be shipping in from New York. Asset Allocation is trained by Linda Rice, and Apollo Landing races for Michael Dilger.