Congratulations to Virginia-bred owners Douglas Daniels, Marshall Dowell and Mary Slade, who each earned a 25% bonus on top of purse earnings from their horses respective wins over the July 4th weekend at Laurel Park!
The extra winnings come courtesy of a new Virginia-bred owners bonus program that began July 1st and continues through December 31st. Any owner of a Virginia-bred that wins an overnight pari-mutuel race in Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or New York is eligible for that 25% bonus money on top of their purse earnings.
Manakin Road (inside) is best in a wild finish in Laurel’s final race on Friday’s summer meet opener. Photo by Jim McCue.
Daniels, who also bred the winner, collected the bonus thanks to Manakin Road’s tight victory in a $22,000 maiden claiming race Friday afternoon. The 3 year old Great Notion gelding faced 11 others in a 5 1/2 furlong sprint and nosed out several at the finish in a blanket photo to collect his first lifetime score. Out of the Lite The Fuse mare, Holly Go Lively, the John Salzman trainee hugged the rail from second down the backstretch, challenged the leader in the turn, got to the front at mid-stretch but had to hold on a thriller. Manakin Road paid $43.20.
Porte Cochere, out of the Partner’s Hero mare, Wonderous Woman, earned a 25% bonus for her owner by winning a maiden claimer at Laurel on Saturday. Photo by Jim McCue.
Porte Cochere, bred by Larry Johnson, captured a 5 1/2 furlong, $22,000 maiden claiming sprint on Sunday. Jockey Edgar Prado, who guided the effort in a crowded field of 12, rode the 3 year old daughter of Street Sense inside through the turn, came out to the five path in mid stretch and crossed 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Pearl’s Love. Porte Cochere, who was in for a $16,000 claiming tag, is out of the Partner’s Hero mare, Wonderous Woman. Dowell received a 25% bonus on top of the purse money for the win, though his triumphant horse was claimed by the Sheffield Stable for $16,000.
Runninginthevale won for the second time in his last three starts July 4th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
Owner/breeder Mary Slade’s Runningthevale captured a 1 1/16th miles, $28,000 starter optional claiming race holiday Monday. The 4 year old son of Fear The Cape won in gate to wire fashion by 3 3/4 lengths over Super Fund in 1:48.34. Out of the Makin mare, Polly’s Persuasion, the Gary Capuano trainee paid $12.20.
Details on the program, and what winning owners must do to claim their extra money, are at www.virginiahorseracing.com and www.vabred.org.