Vance Scholars, Music Amore wins off-turf stakes at Laurel

The weather didn't cooperate at Laurel as both stakes on Saturday's "Turf Sizzlers" card were moved off the grass.

Severe thunder and lightning forced the cancellation of the final two races on Friday and Saturday's turf racing was abandoned due to heavy overnight rain.

Vance Scholars showed no rust in his first start following a 258-day layoff as he took the field gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles.

Ridden by Jorge Ruiz for trainer Dale Capuano, Vance Scholars made an uncontested lead after an opening quarter in 24.78 seconds. Undercover Kitty applied token pressure from the outside after a half-mile in 49.63 as Speaking Scout sat a three-wide tracking trip in third position.

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Undercover Kitty attacked Vance Scholars on the second turn and put a head in front turning into the stretch, but Vance Scholars wouldn't relent. The son of Holy Boss dug in determinedly and parried Undercover Kitty's thrust.

Vance Scholars bounded under the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front and completed the distance in 1:58.29. Undercover Kitty finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Majestic Frontier. Completing the order of finish were Speaking Scout, favored Tommy Bee, and Cloud Play

Timo scratched. Vance Scholars returned $26.60 to win as the fourth choice on the tote.

Bred in Maryland by Anchor & Hope Farm and owned by Steven Newby, Vance Scholars won three of five starts last year at 2 with his only two losses coming in sprint races.

He closed out his 2021 campaign with a half-length victory in a first-level allowance at Laurel on Nov. 21. The Bald Eagle Derby was his first start around two turns.

Newby purchased Vance Scholars for $22,000 as a yearling and the gelding has now earned $130,530. He is a half-brother to three other black-type earners, including stakes winners Fast Pass and Reflector.

Searching Stakes

The $100,000 Searching for 3-year-old fillies, originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on grass, instead was contested over a one-turn mile.

It was won in pace-pressing fashion by Music Amore, who took advantage of the main track's speed-friendly nature.

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Claimed for $20,000 out of a winning effort in a nonwinners of two-lifetime claimer at Presque Isle Downs on May 31, Music Amore pushed Queen Macha and Ocean Safari from the inside through an opening quarter of 23.78 seconds.

Music Amore assumed sole possession of the lead after a half in 47.42 with Queen Macha being scrubbed on to keep pace.

Favored Lady Puchi, who sat the pocket in behind the leader, eased outside Music Amore turning for home, and loomed a strong contender under Horacio Karamanos.

Lady Puchi had the length of the long stretch to pass Music Amore but couldn't reel in the pacesetter. Under the line, it was Music Amore by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:38.88.

Lady Puchi was second, 9 1/4 lengths better than Pharoah’s Song. Then came Queen Macha, Cupid’s Strike, Quality Control, Taswya, and Ocean Safari. Music Amore returned $18.40 to win and was Barbosa's first stakes winner.

Vergara, Gastown Babe, and Sparkle Blue scratched.

"When she made the lead on the backside, I thought we had a shot," said winning trainer Gerald Brooks in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. "When she turned for home, she has a big heart, and she took care of it."

Bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms, Music Amore is a daughter of Mshawish from the family of graded winners Yarrow Brae, Badouizm, and Esteemed Friend. She is owned by Brooks in partnership with Carl Hess Jr. and Ronald Clark.

Music Amore has won four of her last six starts. Overall, she boasts a record of 4 wins from 11 starts for earnings of $119,575.