Laurel: Dahlia, Leatherbury, Clark stakes recaps

Laurel Park hosted three turf stakes Saturday on the undercard of the Federico Tesio and Weber City Miss Stakes.

The Dahlia, for fillies and mares going a route of ground, the Henry S. Clark for three-year-olds and up, and the King T. Leatherbury for sprinters, produced exciting action and some upsets. Favorites went 0-for-3 in the three races.

DAHLIA STAKES

Nineteenamendment
Nineteenamendment won the Dahlia. Photo by Allison Janezic.

Nineteenamendment broke through with her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Dahlia Stakes at Laurel Park, turning in a sharp performance under jockey Paco Lopez. The 5-year-old Maryland-bred mare by Constitution, trained by Michael Trombetta, rated off the early pace while racing a bit rank, then launched a three-wide bid on the far turn and took command inside the eighth pole. She edged clear late to win by 1½ lengths in a final time of 1:36.63 for one mile on firm turf.

Owned by The Estate of R. Larry Johnson, Nineteenamendment now boasts five wins from 16 career starts and has earned over $300,000.

Sparkle Blue closed well between horses for second, while Tufani finished a solid third after stalking the pace.

KING T. LEATHERBURY STAKES

Fore Harp. Photo by Allison Janezic.

Fore Harp snapped a long winless streak with a front-running victory in the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel Park. The 7-year-old bay gelding by Weigelia took command early from the inside, rated kindly, and turned away pressure before drawing clear under steady urging to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:02.40 for 5½ furlongs on firm turf.

Trained by Robert E. Reid Jr. and owned by LC Racing LLC, James Bonner, and Robert E. Reid Jr., this was Fore Harp’s first win since the 2023 Laurel Dash, bringing his career tally to seven wins from 31 starts with earnings just shy of $450,000.

Witty rallied strongly after a troubled start to finish second, while Whenigettoheaven held on for third after pressing the pace.

HENRY S. CLARK STAKES

Signator. Photo by Allison Janezic.

Signator captured his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel Park with a determined late run. Trained by Claude McGaughey III and ridden by Samuel Marin, the 5-year-old gray or roan son of Tapit surged from mid-pack, swung five wide in the stretch, and powered past rivals to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:35.51 on firm turf.

This win marked Signator’s fifth career victory from 14 starts, boosting his career earnings to nearly $300,000.

Owned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Phipps Stable, Ken Langone, Edward J. and Lynne Hudson, and Lane’s End Racing, Signator defeated a competitive field that included runner-up Mischievous Angel and late-running Fulmineo, who finished third.

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