Ten-year-old Virginia-bred Two Notch Road turned back the clock with a thrilling come from behind victory Saturday in the $75,000 Meadow Stables Stakes at Laurel Park.
Two Notch Road (outside) just edged Tiz Our Time (inside) to capture the $75,000 Meadow Stables Stakes August 5th at Laurel. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
The Glenn Thompson trainee (outside) trailed Tiz Our Time (inside) by 4 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch, but methodically pecked away at the leader with each stride. Two Notch Road ended up winning by a head, his first victory since June 25th last year.
Jockey Alex Cintron happily guides Two Notch Road back into the winners circle after capturing the Meadow Stables Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.
The Partner’s Hero gelding, bred by James Hackman, saw his lifetime bankroll surge over the $500,000 mark. On Virginia Day Saturday at Laurel, it was fitting a horse that authored a top three finish in the Virginia Derby did well — Two Notch Road finished third in the 2010 Derby! Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
The afternoon festivities concluded with another thrilling race. Sweet Sandy, who trailed by 16 lengths with a quarter mile to go in the $75,000 William Backer Stakes, stormed back to nip Armoire by a neck.
Sweet Sandy (outside) just edges Armoire in the inaugural William Backer Stakes. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
The 5 year old Flatter mare had not won since June 1st last year, but trainer Danielle Hodsdon was confident today heading into the 1 1/16 miles event. “I had a good feeling but was a little worried about the short distance,” she said. “The filly wants to go 1 3/8ths or 1 1/2 miles, but the soft turf set up a pace to her liking. We looked at a race in Delaware today but opted for the Virginia-bred stakes.”
Trainer Danielle Hodsdon collected her first stakes win when Sweet Sandy took the William Backer Stakes. She is to the right of jockey Jevian Toldeo.
This was Hodsdon’s first stakes win — she was a steeplechase rider for 15 years prior to being a trainer. Sweet Sandy was bred by Lazy Lane Farms, LLC and was ridden by Jevian Toldeo. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.