Reprinted from Bloodhorse.com
Panic Stable’s Rose Brier kept his record perfect in Maryland Saturday when he pulled away from eight others to win the $60,000 Bert Allen for the third consecutive year.
The Bert Allen was one of five restricted races for Virginia bred/sired horses contested Saturday at Laurel Park as part of Commonwealth Day.
Rose Brier completed a “three-peat” in Saturday’s Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel. The 7 year old Mizzen Mast gelding won the stakes in ’14 and ’15. Photo by Jim McCue.
Rose Brier is now unbeaten in four stakes at Laurel Park and is unbeaten in five stakes in Maryland. The 7-year-old son of Mizzen Mast, trained by Jane Cibelli and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, went off at 1-9.
Rose Brier broke well under McCarthy and stalked from third around the first turn and down backstretch while Runninginthevale set fractions of :23.51, :47.56 and 1:11.79. Around the final turn, Rose Brier raced to the front and drew away by 4 ½ lengths while covering the 1 1/16 mile course in 1:41.36.
“I just kept him out of trouble,” said McCarthy, who won four races on the 11-race card. “I tucked him in and saved a little ground going into the first turn. When got to backside I took no prisoners. I kept him out three wide and he ran like a 1-9 should run.
“He’s an awesome horse. To have him win three stakes, in the same stakes, three years in a row is awesome. I love this horse. He always shows up.”
Said Cibelli by phone: “It couldn’t have been any better. We could just sit behind the pace and I thought Trevor rode him very well like he always does. It was great.
Moon River Shines Brightest in Punch Line
Moon River, acquired from the estate of late Virginia breeder and owner William Backer by DARRS Inc., rallied down the stretch past favored Turf Monster (G3) runner-up Two North Road to win the $60,000 Punch Line. A 4-year-old by Bluegrass Cat ridden by Feargal Lynch, Moon River covered a firm 5 ½-furlong turf course in 1:02.03.
Moon River, owned by Davis Ross, was victorious in the Punch Line Stakes Saturday at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
After being acquired by DARRS Inc.’s David Ross, Moon River was transferred to the barn of trainer Brendan Walsh where finished fifth at Saratoga and sixth at Belmont in entry-level allowance races over the turf.
“We acquired him from the estate of Bill Backer,” Ross said. “Bill was a very big racing fan out of Virginia and we’re pleased to carry his tradition on. I thought he would get better. I thought he had a lot of potential. I also think he has some diversity, so we look forward to seeing him maybe on the dirt. I think he’s just going to get better.”
Moon River raced fourth past an opening quarter of :22.99 set by Available. Pressed through a half mile in :45.34 by Two Notch Road, Available and Two Notch Road couldn’t hold off Moon River, who moved three-wide entering the stretch and by his opponents inside the final eighth.
As far as the next race for Moon River, a winner of two of 15 starts, Ross said the horse will get a rest.
“He needs a break right now, he’s been racing pretty regularly,” Ross said. “We’ll give him a nice little break and see where Brendan wants to race him.”
Skipalute Drives to Victory in Brookmeade
Skipalute, trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Jose Ortiz, drew off around the turn and then held off Complete St. down the stretch to win the $60,000 Brookmeade by a neck. A 4-year-old daughter of Midnite Lute owned by GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm, Skipalute covered the 1 1/16 mile course in 1:41.60. The victory was the filly’s second in 17 starts. She had finished second in the Delta Downs Princess (G3) in 2014.
Skipalute, bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, captured the ’16 Brookmeade Stakes Saturday at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.
Skipalute went to the front and set fractions of :23.87, :47.71 and 1:11.82 before holding off Complete St., who entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs.
Lime House Louie Game in Jamestown Win
Wildcard Stable’s 2-year-old gelding Lime House Louie gamely fought back after being headed down the stretch to win the $60,000 Jamestown
Rated third behind C B Bodemester, who set fractions of :22.4 and :45.62, Lime House Louie took the lead at the head of the stretch, was headed by Hold Me Black inside the final eighth, but fought back along the inside for the victory, covering a 5 ½-furlong course in 1:03.09. Lime House Louie, who broke his maiden at Charles Town in July for trainer Flint Stites, was ridden by Gabriel Saez.
Lime House Louie, bred by Carlos Moore & Gillian Gordon-Moore, won the Jamestrown Stakes for 2 year olds at Laurel Saturday. Gabriel Saez guided the effort up top. Photo by Jim McCue.
Rapid Rhythm Proves Best in Oakley
Rapid Rhythm, eighth down the backstretch, closed down the middle of the track down the stretch to win the $60,000 Oakley. The 4-year-old filly, owned by DARRS Inc., trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, covered the 5 ½-furlong course in 1:02.38. Rapid Rhythm, who has won five of 14 races races across the turf and five of nine at the distance, returned $3.
Rapid Rhythm, owned by David Ross and bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, LLC, won the Oakley Stakes at Laurel Saturday. photo by Jim McCue.
