Laurel Park news and notes
Three stakes, stakes-quality allowance on tap
The Biz
September 23, 2026
Laurel Park kicks off its racing weekend Friday with a nine-race program that includes a couple of ratings races, a couple of maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds, and a nearly $7,300 carryover in the Jackpot Pick 6.
Saturday brings three stakes, while Sunday includes a stakes-quality allowance. Some highlights:
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LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday brings a trio of turf stakes.
All Along Stakes
Multiple graded stakes winner Grayosh from the powerful Chad Brown barn is a perhaps surprising entrant in this nine-furlong turf contest for fillies and mares: it’ll be her first start in four outside of graded company. Jorge Ruiz gets the call. Multiple graded-placed runner Storm Miami is expected to scratch, while Fair Hill-based Mischief in Motion looks to recapture her stakes-winning form of a year ago.
Selima Stakes
Trainer Keri Brion looks to earn her first stakes win on the flat with a competitive pair in Sea Isle City, a maiden winner at Kentucky Downs, and Colonial graduate Millford Lass in Saturday’s $125,000 Selima Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Her close friend Brittany Russell counters with a pair of her own.
Laurel Futurity
Broadcast seeks his first victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Laurel Futurity after finishing less than a length behind the winner in his Saratoga debut. He faces Saratoga winner Howard’s Hope, graded stakes-placed Perfect Dream, and Fullcup, who tries turf and two turns for the first time.
Sunday Race 9
Stakes winners Mopo and Gift of Gab meet again in Sunday’s ninth race, a stakes-quality $56,000 allowance turf sprint. Mopo defeated Gift of Gab in June’s Jameela Stakes, but Gift of Gab has since won twice, including the Sept. 12 Sensible Lady. Stakes-placed runners Flamingo Way, Somnium, Obstreperous, and Come to Mama, along with the lightly raced Clawless Brit, add intrigue.
NEWS AND NOTES
Jockey Angel Cruz returned from injury to win three times over the weekend. He had been hurt in a spill at Timonium Sept. 4… Jaime Rodriguez won five times to lead local riders, while Jevian Toledo also won three… Rodriguez leads local riders with nine wins at the meet, three more than Jorge Ruiz…
Trainers Jamie Ness and Hugh McMahon each saddled three winners last weekend, while Robbie Bailes won twice, including the Weather Vane with Slewperstitus… Ness narrowly leads the overall standings with six wins, one more than McMahon; John Salzman, Jr. has three…
A pair of recent Maryland runners may, pending appeals, soon be disqualified according to HISA rulings. Conquerthosewecan, second in the Shine Again Stakes last month at Timonium, stands to be disqualified after state Racing Commission stewards found that jockey Carlos Lopez had struck the horse 11 times with the crop, in violation of the six-strike rule. And Tiz No Clown, winner of a Sept. 11 starter/optional claimer, may be DQed after the stewards found that jockey Tais Lyapustina had hit her mount 10 times. Lopez, whose violation would be his third in six months, faces a 15-day suspension and $3,000 fine, while Lyapustina’s penalty includes a six-day suspension and $1,000 fine. Both have appealed…
Ratings races are suddenly all the rage in Maryland. The races restrict entry to horses who have been rated, in the Equibase ratings, at a certain level or below, or those running for a specified claiming tag. Friday’s card includes two ratings/optional claimers…
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