LRL: Intriguing group set for Friday allowance feature
The Biz
January 23, 2026
A couple of up-and-coming runners square off against veterans still seeking to knock down the first allowance condition in Friday’s Laurel Park feature.
After scratches, nine runners are expected to face the starter in the $49,000 first-level allowance contest for four-year-olds and up at a one-turn mile on the main track. The race is carded as the eighth on a nine-race program, and post time is 12 noon.
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Much of the focus figures to land on Lonesome Road (4-1), a lightly raced 4-year-old trained by Michael Trombetta. The Maclean’s Music gelding broke his maiden here in December with a sharp performance that produced the best last-out Beyer figure in the field, a 93. That was his first try on dirt after a pair of grass outings, and he’ll now try to stretch his speed from six furlongs to a mile. Mychel Sanchez has the return mount.
He’ll be tested by the comebacking Tony Eclipse (9-2), who brings class and experience to the table. The winner of the 2024 Maryland Juvenile, the Brittany Russell-trained Not This Time colt had just two 2025 starts, both underwhelming but both in stakes company. A return to the allowance ranks could make him a major player, particularly if he’s able to dictate terms on the front end under Sheldon Russell.
Among the more seasoned runners, Group Ticket is a familiar face at this level and the lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite. The Jamie Ness trainee has been remarkably consistent and finished second last out at this level while tackling a longer distance. He cuts back slightly here and gets some weight relief, factors that could help him finally secure the elusive N1X victory in his 37th career start.
Other notables include 2024 Pennsylvania Nursery winner Crab Daddy (20-1); the improving Joe the Jet (8-1); and Superpower (12-1), the Miguel Clement trainee making his first start since May and a first-time gelding.
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