Zee Bros upsets the De Francis. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
Your mid-Atlantic weekend stakes winners:
Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (LRL)
- Zee Bros
- Owner Zayat Stables LLC
- Trainer D. Wayne Lukas
- Jockey Jose Ortiz
- Notable: Ortiz picked up the mount because Alex Cintron was injured Friday and unable to ride on Saturday.
Richard W. Small Stakes (LRL)
- Stormin Monarcho
- Owner Lawrence Roman
- Trainer David Jacobson
- Jockey Jevian Toledo
- Notable: The race was marred when Beautyinthepulpit came out, forcing Turco Bravo out and into Talk Show Man, who fell. Talk Show Man got up and ran back to the barn, while jockey Xavier Perez left under his own power but did not ride his one later mount.
Smart Halo Stakes (LRL)
- Lake Sebago
- Owner Tim E. O’Donohue Racing Stables LLC
- Trainer Jerry Robb
- Jockey Trevor McCarthy
- Notable: McCarthy took both halves of the early double.
James F. Lewis, III Stakes (LRL)
- Cinco Charlie
- Owner William and Corinne Heiligbrodt
- Trainer Steve Asmussen
- Jockey Ricardo Santana
- Notable: Asmussen snapped a lengthy winless streak when shipping into Laurel.
Safely Kept Stakes (LRL)
- Who’s In Town
- Owner Richard Golden
- Trainer Michael Matz
- Jockey Julian Pimentel
- Bred in Maryland by Sycamore Hall Farm LLC
- Notable: First stake win for the filly who won but was DQed from last year’s G2 Adirondack.
City of Laurel Stakes (LRL)
- Griff
- Owner Sea Gull Associates
- Trainer Tim Hills
- Jockey Abel Castellano, Jr.
- Notable: Griff rallied from last to get the win.
Donna Freyer Stakes (PRX)
- Miss Bullistic
- Owner Kathleen Willier
- Trainer Hamilton Smith
- Jockey Jevian Toledo
- Bred in Maryland by H. Graham Motion
- Notable: Second stakes win of the weekend — at two different tracks — for Jevian Toledo.
Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes (PRX)
- Duff
- Owner The Elkstone Group LLC
- Trainer Ron Potts
- Jockey Daniel Centeno
- Bred in Pennsylvania by Two Sisters Farm
- Notable: 2yo Duff already has two stakes wins.
My Sister Pearl Stakes (CT)
- Down Town Allen
- Owner John Casey
- Trainer John Casey
- Jockey Matt McGowan
- Bred in West Virginia by John Casey
- Notable: Win puts Down Town Allen over $1 million in career earnings.
