Air Token scores in Laurel feature
Press Release- January 21, 2022
Air Token, the 2021 Maryland Million Sprint winner owned and trained by Jose Corrales, got an ideal stalking trip under jockey J.D. Acosta and powered to a five-length victory in Friday’s feature race at Laurel Park.
Making his 5-year-old debut in the optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up, Air Token ($3.60) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since his Maryland Million upset at 7-1 Oct. 23. He was third by a neck in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial and fourth by 1 ¼ in the Dave’s Friend, also at Laurel, to end 2021.
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The winning time for six furlongs was 1:11.45 over a fast main track.
Borracho, third in the 2019 Woody Stephens (G1), dueled with Zabracadabra through a quarter-mile in 22.87 seconds and a half in 46.58 while Air Token settled in third. Acosta tipped out three wide midway around the far turn to take on the leaders, straightening home in front and sprinting clear through the stretch.
Second choice in a field of six, Borracho stayed up for second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Arthur’s Hope. They were followed by Whiskey and You, McCain and Zabracadabra.
Corrales claimed Air Token for $10,000 out of an August 2020 maiden claiming victory at Laurel, his fourth career start. Overall, the Maryland-bred Golden Lad gelding has eight wins from 29 races and $358,693 in purse earnings.
In Friday’s co-feature, Marie Trombetta’s Torch of Truth ($7) wore down pacesetter Gentleman Joe and surged past nearing the wire for a three-quarter-length triumph in 1:52.77 in Race 8, an optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. It was the fifth career win for 7-year-old Torch of Truth, fourth in the 2020 and 2021 Maryland Million Classic.
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