Zigs and zags as connex consider Laurel, Big A stakes
Quint’s Brew, Takethemoneyhoney pick Lrl, Point Dume Big A
The Biz
April 3, 2026
One horse zigs, and another one zags. Several runners entered in Laurel Park’s four Saturday stakes are also entered elsewhere, and the configuration of who stays and who goes will impact the composition of the races.
In the $100,000 Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes, Quint’s Brew will “zig” to Laurel rather than ship to Aqueduct for the Grade 2 Carter, a decision that keeps one of the race’s key players in place. Trainer Ned Allard made clear the preference to stay home, and the gelding comes in sharp off his Not For Love victory.
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“I only [entered the Carter] because you never know who might show up, and you never know about post positions, and I thought I should play it out,” Allard said. “But I’m coming to [Laurel].”
Quint’s Brew’s presence is magnified by the absence of Point Dume, who will instead run in New York, according to co-owner David Bushey. Point Dume, dominant winner of the General George in February, was 9-5 on the morning line; Quint’s Brew, odds-on in four straight and lined at 8-5, might go below even once again given the absence of his main rival.
In the Heavenly Cause Stakes, Takethemoneyhoney also stays put rather than head to Aqueduct’s Distaff and is 4-5 on the local morning line. The mare enters in top form after a decisive Conniver Stakes win.
“She got the job done,” trainer Michael Moore said. “She’s just a nice mare. She tries every time.”
The Native Dancer Stakes sees a similar split. Otello will bypass Laurel for the Excelsior at Aqueduct, but others remain, including Wild Vine, who trainer Jamie Ness believes is sitting on another strong effort.
“He’s just been a top-notch, consistent horse,” Ness said. “He never throws a bad one. The horse is doing really good. I expect a big effort from him, for sure.”
In the Primonetta Stakes, morning line favorite Alani’s expected scratch reshapes the race, leaving contenders like Dwelling Legacy and Twirling Beauty in position to benefit.
“She’s doing well,” said Dwelling Legacy’s owner, Frank Perri. “She’s really… blossomed in the last year. [Trainer] Gary Capuano has done an amazing job with her, getting her to the next level.”
Perri spoke on Maryland Racing Today, part of the Midlantic Racing Today podcast powered by The Racing Biz.
The zigs and zags will leave the Laurel stakes without some expected major contenders, but they’ll also open the races up to newcomers looking to seize their opportunities.
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