Sharp Azteca impressed in winning the City of Laurel, while Name Changer was clearly best in the Richard Small Stakes at Laurel Park.
The Maryland Jockey Club saw 16 percent growth on its De Francis Dash card, continuing a trend that will see handle rise nearly 20 percent over last year.
Tequilita prevailed in the Smart Halo Stakes, for two-year-old fillies, for the husband and wife team of Michael and Dorothy Matz today at Laurel Park.
El Areeb drew off to an impressive score in today’s James F. Lewis, III Stakes at Laurel Park in his first try against stakes company.
Laurel Park’s Saturday De Francis card will start with carryovers in the Pick 5, Super Hi 5, and jackpot Rainbow 6.
Several highly regarded runners are among the nine juvenile fillies set to contend in Saturday’s Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel Park.
Malibu Stacy, who’s placed in two graded stakes, is favored in Saturday’s Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel Park.
Grade 3 Pat Day Mile winner Sharp Azteca figures to be a major player in a stacked rewnewal of the City of Laurel Stakes on Saturday.
The Fabulous Strike, anchoring Penn National’s Thanksgiving eve card, looks to draw a big field, as do two undercard stakes.
Both Lovable Lady and Chapel of Chimes saw three-race win streaks snapped last out and will be looking for redemption in Saturday’s Geisha Stakes at Laurel Park.