Lynch has trio for Laurel juvenile stakes

Undulated took a maiden race at Laurel Park on August 7. Photo by The Racing Biz.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Given their success already this year, trainer Cathal Lynch has reason to be excited about what 2017 might bring for his talented 2-year-olds. Before moving them on to their sophomore seasons, Lynch will send out some of his juvenile stars on Saturday’s stakes-filled program at Laurel Park.

The Marylander for 2-year-olds and $100,000 Gin Talking for 2-year-old fillies, both at seven furlongs, are among five stakes worth $475,000 in purses on the New Year’s Eve program that closes Laurel’s 52-day fall meet.

Also on tap Saturday are the $100,000 Dave’s Friend for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs and the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go for females 3 and up and $75,000 Jennings for Maryland-bred/sired horses 3 and older, both run at one mile.

First race post is 12:30 p.m.

More opportunities for 2-year-olds was one of the main reasons Lynch relocated his base of operations from Pennsylvania to Maryland, and he has won 13 races with nine different juveniles in 2016 after winning eight 2-year-old races in both 2014 and 2015.

“We pray a lot, so that may be something,” Lynch joked. “We have some great owners that are willing to trust you whenever you ask to give a filly the time or a colt the time. That’s the key for us, having the owners that are willing to wait and do the right thing. Most of these horses they spent quite a bit of money on and some of the other ones we didn’t, but they’ve all come through and broke their maiden and won a few stakes. It’s just been a very, very good year. We wouldn’t be anything without the owners.”

Lynch entered Swynford Stakes winner Undulated, a $625,000 yearling son of Curlin, and Two Charley’s, second to impressive stablemate El Areeb in the James F. Lewis III Stakes, in the Marylander. M M G Stables’ Undulated made his first two starts on turf, winning his debut and finishing second by a nose to Caribou Club in the Laurel Futurity, before rallying to take the six-furlong Swynford over Woodbine’s all-weather surface Nov. 27 in his most recent start.

“He was a little unlucky getting beat a nose to that nice horse in the Laurel Futurity. He ran very well there,” Lynch said. “He had a rough trip first time out but he overcame that and won and then the trip to Canada he really impressed me with his gallop out. The dirt’s the question. Going a little further shouldn’t be any issue. This might be the chance to try the dirt and see if he handles that as well as he does the other two surfaces.”

Charles L Biggs’ Two Charley’s also won his unveiling, a five-furlong maiden claimer July 29, then finished behind well-regarded stakes winners No Dozing and O Dionysus in an entry level optional claiming allowance Sept. 10. Most recently, he came with a run on the far outside to finish a decisive second to El Areeb in the six-furlong Lewis Nov. 19. A son of champion Hansen, he was purchased for $30,000 as a 2-year-old in training in April.

“He wasn’t an expensive horse but we’ve been pleasantly surprised with him. He’s done everything right. He surprised us when he broke his maiden the first time. He shows up more in the afternoon than he does in the morning, where I have a lot of horses do the other way. We’re expecting a good race out of him on Saturday,” Lynch said. “He’s just getting better and better.”

Also in the Marylander are Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes winner O Dionysus; Irish War Cry, a 4 ½-length debut winner for trainer Graham Motion Nov. 11 at Laurel; Always a Suspect, a winner of two straight in New York for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin; Dec. 10 Parx maiden winner Cape Lookout; and maiden Alive.

Lynch will send out Equine Prep’s Star Super for the first time in the Gin Talking, the Super Saver filly’s fourth straight stakes appearance. After breaking her maiden Aug. 5 at Laurel, she ran third in the Sorority at Monmouth Park, sixth in the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park and second by a length in the Smart Halo Nov. 19 at Laurel.

“We just got her after that last race and she’s been training very well. Dale Capuano had her before and did a great job with her. The filly was in great shape; we’re just trying not to mess it up,” Lynch said. “She is a very, very talented filly. It’s just a matter of getting her over there. These 2-year-olds, you just have to go through the motions and do everything right on the day and get them up to the race. We’re delighted to have her in the barn.”

The Gin Talking field also includes Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship runner-up Lucky in Malibu; Squan’s Kingdom, fourth by two lengths in the Smart Halo; recent maiden winners Aiden’s Rag Doll, Ms Locust Point, Pink Cashmere and Star Touch; Cold Hearted Pearl, off the board in a pair of Grade 1 stakes this fall; and Bubbly.