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Maryland-breds to tackle Pearl Necklace, Caveat

by | Jul 13, 2017 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Racing, Racing

Just Howard

Just Howard broke his maiden at Pimlico. Photo by The Racing Biz.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Sharing Saturday’s card with the Stormy Blues are the $75,000 Caveat for 3-year-olds on the Kelso layout and the $75,000 Pearl Necklace for 3-year-old fillies over the Fort Marcy Turf Course, both at 1 1/16 miles and restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses.

Three Diamonds Farm’s Bonus Points, winless in three previous grass starts, tries turf again in the Caveat for trainer Todd Pletcher. Bred by Country Life Farm, the Majestic Warrior colt earned his second career win and first in a stakes in the one-mile, 70-yard Parx Derby May 6, but drew the rail and was no factor in the Penn Mile (G2) June 3 last out.

Just Howard, second and third in two previous races over the Laurel turf and coming off a maiden victory May 29 at Pimlico; Bode Miller’s No More Talk, third in the Miracle Wood Feb. 18 making his third straight grass start; Good Reasoning, Jerandson and Hammerin Aamer complete the field.

Sagamore Farm homebred Riley’s Choice, unraced since finishing fifth in the Smart Halo Nov. 19 at Laurel, opens her 3-year-old season in the Pearl Necklace. It will be the first time on turf and beyond six furlongs for the Distorted Humor filly, whose dam, Shared Account, was a multiple graded stakes winner on grass for Sagamore including the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

“She’s a light filly so we gave her the winter off before we started her back up. She got sick on us when we did start back up but now she’s doing well,” DePaz said. “I know it’s the first time going a mile and a sixteenth and first time grass, but her mother was all grass so she should be able to get the distance. Hopefully she has it within her.”

Hailey’s Flip is cross-entered in the Pearl Necklace, joining her Gary Capuano-trained stablemate Lucky in Malibu, who has placed three times in Laurel dirt stakes over the winter but 0-for-6 on grass with a pair of seconds.

Recent Laurel allowance winner Faze the Nation; I’m Betty G, a maiden winner in her first try on turf May 20 at Indiana Grand; My Sistersledge, fourth by 3 ½ lengths in the Honey Ryder May 6 at Gulfstream last out; and She’slikethewind are also entered.