Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, January 24, 2020

Honor the Fleet held off Threes Over Deuces to win the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

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

Victor Carrasco creeped up on a milestone on Monday afternoon, winning the 5th race with Claudio Gonzalez’s Bernie’s on Fire. He got a great trip stalking off loose leader Carey Times, then moved two-wide on the turn. Carey Times battled on in the stretch, cutting the margin late, but Bernie’s on Fire held on for a half-length win. So far on the year, Victor’s won five races from 25 mounts, earning $179,887, and he has 998 career victories.
Bernie’s on Fire was one of three winners for Gonzalez on the Monday card. He won race 1 with Fort Royal, and the 2nd race with Rookie Salsa. On the meet, Gonzalez has 13 wins, twice as many as runner-up Jamie Ness.
Three of the four stakes on Saturday’s card featured an upset, and the undercard included one as well. Benintendi, trying to rebound off a disappointing second start, was 4-5 to win a n/w1x allowance. He dueled with Beyond the Victory in the early stages, and put that rival away on the turn. Bobby G, ridden by Horacio Karamanos for Jose Corrales, came calling in the stretch, however, and got up to win by a neck at 5/2. Read our stakes recaps here and here.
Trevor McCarthy paces the jockey standings so far, with 12 wins to his credit from 67 rides. Horacio Karamanos is in second with seven victories; five riders are in a tie for third place, all with six wins. Claudio Gonzalez leads the training ranks with 13 wins, six more than Jamie Ness.

Parx only got one day of racing in this week. Racing was cancelled on Saturday and Monday due to poor track conditions. Tuesday’s card was completed as scheduled.
New York shipper Runforthemunnings impressed in Tuesday’s feature, winning a n/w2x allowance optional claiming race by six lengths. After an awkward break, the 3/2 favorite was rushed up to a clear lead, getting clear by 2 ½ lengths after a quarter-mile. He never looked back, cruising to victory in 1:12.41 for six furlongs. That’s his third career win, and his second in his last three starts. He’s owned by John Dewberry, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, and was ridden by Jorge Vargas, Jr.
Mychel Sanchez has begun to assert himself in the rider standings, opening up a clear lead. So far, he’s got 10 winners form 47 starters. No other rider has more than five wins.

Sudden Breeze went from worst to first in an eighth of a mile in Friday’s 5th race. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the WV-bred n/w3 allowance, he was well behind early, and turning for home, he was the last of seven. After a wide stretch rally, he made up the necessary ground and crossed the wire a half length in front. The Laurel Park shipper is owned by James Wolf, trained by Anthony Farrior, and was ridden by J.D. Acosta.
Later on Friday’s card, Papparoxy tried the opposite approach, much to her benefit. She broke from post five in the n/w1x allowance for 3-year-old fillies at 4 ½ furlongs, and immediately opened up a long lead. Turning for home, she was four lengths in front. Favored Ilchester Cheetah came flying late, but Papproxy had enough to hold on and win by a neck. Christian Olmo rode for owner Kozak Racing and trainer Anthony Farrior.
Despite just one win on the racing week, Arnaldo Bocachica remains atop the rider standings. He has 10 wins, while Denis Araujo, who won five last weekend, has nine.
Jeff Runco paces the trainer race, with five wins. Four trainers are tied for second, with three victories each.