Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, December 18

Victor Rosales won three races at Laurel Park on December 14. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s your five-minute read to get caught up on all of it:

LAUREL PARK

• On a wet and sloppy Friday afternoon, two-year-old Windy Lane turned in a “splashtastic” debut. Sent off at 9/1, she fell well behind in the 7-furlong maiden race, 13 lengths back with three furlongs to go. As they charged down the stretch, Orbette opened up a clear lead, and looked to be home free. However, Windy Lane never stopped charging, and surged late to win by a widening length. She went the distance in 1:26.44 for trainer Graham Motion and jockey Weston Hamilton.
• Aveenu Malcainu has turned a new leaf since arriving at Laurel. He won his second in a row on Saturday, taking a n/w3x allowance competition. Trevor McCarthy rated him mid-pack in the early stages, then fanned him six-wide on the turn. In the stretch, Aveenu Malcainu ranged up alongside hard-knocking veteran John Jones, then got by him late to win by a length. Since setting up shop in Maryland for the Jeremiah Englehart barn, he’s won two times, and has come in second once. Stakes competition is likely next for this New York-bred.
• The Maryland-bred filly Artful Splatter made it three in a row on Saturday, winning a Maryland-bred allowance by four lengths. She rated off favored Esterina, then moved on the turn and drew off to a decisive win, stopping the clock for a mile in 1:39.78. She’s owned by James Wolf and trained by Kieron Magee. So far this year, she’s won four times from twelve starts, earning more than $100,000.
• Victor Rosales turned a riding hat trick on Saturday afternoon. He won the second race in a photo finish aboard Tapping the Glass, getting up over My Friends Beer. He then took the third race with an easy win aboard favored Call Me Jelly Roll. He completed the hat trick in the nightcap, as Determined Vision stalked and got up to win by a length.
• Off an impressive maiden win, Benintendi was sent off as the 3-5 favorite in a n/w1x allowance on Sunday. He could do no better than second this time, after an inside trip. Rather, it was 7/2 Marco Island who got the glory, as he moved three-wide on the turn and drew off to a 2 ½ length victory.
• McCarthy and Sheldon Russell are tied for the lead in the jockey standings, with 41 wins each. Alex Cintron is third, with 38 victories, thirteen clear of the since-relocated Julio Correa for fourth.
• Two wins for Claudio Gonzalez keep him atop the trainer standings, with 41 victories.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

PARX RACING

• Hey Mamaluke had to sweat it out, but she prevailed as the 2-5 favorite in Monday’s feature, a Pennsylvania-bred allowance. She took the slight lead around the far turn, but was unable to shake off the persistent challenge of second choice Dixie Serenade (4/1). That rival couldn’t get by, however, and Hey Mamaluke won by a neck. She’s been on a tear this year, with nine top-two finishes from eleven starts. Prior to this, she was second in the Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel. She’s owned by Joseph Capriglione, trained by Patricia Farro, and was ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel. 
• Frankie Pennington and Mychel Sanchez each won two races this week, keeping Pennington atop the jockey standings, 143-141. It looks as if this battle will come down to the last day of the meet. Joseph Taylor continues to hold a comfortable lead in the trainer standings.

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