Witty makes no jokes in Spectacular Bid Stakes
Earlier in the week, trainer McLane Hendriks told Daily Racing Form that Witty had been training "like a fire-breathing dragon." On Saturday, at Laurel Park, Witty looked like a beast as he dominated the Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.
Ridden by Carol Cedeno, Witty ($14.80) tracked the pace outside under confident handling as H P Moon carved out splits of 23 and 46.82 while pressured by Uncaptured Spirit.
Witty made a sharp three-wide bid to the front on the turn and stormed clear in the stretch to win by an eye-catching 7 3/4 lengths. He completed the distance in 1:25.38 seconds.
Coastal Mission finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Local Motive. Alottahope, Last Romance, H P Moon, Shake Em Loose, and Uncaptured Spirit completed the order of finish. Beast Or Famine, Heffner, and Sharp Red Eagle were scratched.
"He was very in the bridle in the morning, and it was nice to see that in the afternoon," Hendricks said Saturday evening. "I hoped he had something at the end, and he did."
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A homebred owned by Hendriks' mother, respected Mid-Atlantic trainer Elizabeth Merryman, Witty graduated second time out at Parx Racing on Oct. 25 when saddled by Merryman. Witty was Hendriks' first starter and winner when he captured the Pennsylvania Nursery for statebreds at Parx on Dec. 7.
Witty was withdrawn from the Parx Juvenile on Dec. 29 after suffering a foot abscess. Hendriks fitted Witty with a Z-bar shoe and the gelding recovered in quick order.
Witty is by Great Notion and is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Caravel.
H P Moon was favored after earning Maryland's top 2-year-old Beyer Speed Figure (81) of 2021 in his career debut on Aug. 21. Forced to miss the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery, he was bumped leaving the gate, rushed up to set the pace and offered no resistance in the stretch.
Hendriks said that Witty exited the race in good order. He mentioned the gelding was nominated to the Triple Crown series earlier in the day and is planning on stretching him out in distance for his next start.
Luna Belle wins Xtra Heat
Luna Belle ran to her past performances as she drew away from five rivals in the $100,000 Xtra Heat for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
The pace was solid as stakes-placed Beneath the Stars outsprinted swift stakes-winner Buff My Boots to clear and make the lead through fractions of 22.79 and 46.74 seconds.
Luna Belle ($3.40) and jockey Denis Aruajo moved into third entering the turn under whip urging and the filly soon hit her best stride. She attacked outside the pacesetters turning into the stretch and was simply too good.
Luna Belle looked strong powering off to win by six lengths in 1:12.03. Buff My Boots was up for second, two lengths better than Beneath the Stars. Jackie the Joker, Determined Truth and Sparkle Sprinkle were next.
Trained by Hamilton Smith, Luna Belle conquered the restricted Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship in her most recent start. She earned a very competitive 78 Beyer Speed Figure in that race, a number that towered over her competition on Saturday.
A daughter of Great Notion and stakes-placed Heavenly Moon (by Mojave Moon), Luna Belle is a half-sister to stakes-placed performers The Poser, Moon Virginia, and Chinquapin. Luna Belle has won 3 of 8 starts for earnings of $186,570.