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Love's Blush
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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LAUREL, MD. 11-14-09---Richard Golden’s Love’s Blush enjoyed a perfect stalking trip before assuming command and drawing away to win the $50,000 All Brandy Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares at Laurel Park.
Under jockey Travis Dunkelberger, Love’s Blush was notching her first stakes win for trainer Rodney Jenkins. Post time favorite Sweet Goodbye finished second after leading into the stretch. Amie’s Legend rallied from far back to take third.
“She was sharp today,” Dunkelberger said. “Just getting her to settle and be close enough to make that one run without leveling off was the key. Usually she doesn’t like being around other horses but she took it today. She is so hard to ride. She ducks and dives and tries to get away from horses. She doesn’t know what she’s doing yet but she beat a good one today (Sweet Goodbye).”
The All Brandy was contested over the sloppy going in 1:52.65 for the 1-1/8th mile distance. The winner, a daughter of Not For Love, won by a length and a quarter and paid $7.40.
“I knew she would run well,” Jenkins said. “She was much greener than most of the fillies in the race (five of the seven starters were stakes winners). She is still not as good as she’s going to be. I love this filly and always have. My staff has done a wonderful job getting her ready for this spot.”
The Jenkins barn went five-for-nine with eight in the money finishes this week at Laurel Park. From 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon to 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, Jenkins visited the winners’ circle six times, including four at Laurel. The 65-year-old conditioner scored with Trophy Collector and Popeye’s Lady Wednesday at Laurel then won at Charles Town with Imanheiress and Covert Action. On Thursday’s nine-race card, Classic Art and Dixieland Melody emerged victorious for the barn.
“We had a terrible October and the barn was getting down because we ran some live horses,” added Jenkins. “We were just getting beat by better horses.”
Jenkins, one of the dominate American show riders in history, has been a top 20 conditioner in the state since 2000.
BIGDADDYSGIRL WINS FOR 7TH TIME IN ‘09
Gina Rosenthal’s Bigdaddysgirl won for the seventh time this year when the daughter of Louis Quatorze rallied to win this afternoon’s second race. Trained by Jerry Robb, she has 12 in the money finishes this year in 16 starts for earnings of $111,070. The 3-year-old is six-for-11 at Laurel, her home track, with her other victory coming at Pimlico Race Course during the spring meeting.
Maryland Million Classic winner Sumacha’hot and Apple Special have each visited the winners’ circle five times at the major Maryland tracks in 2009.
Only seven horses, including Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, have won more races in North America during the year.
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY RAISES MORE THAN $2,200 FOR COMBAT SOLDIERS RECOVERY FUND
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Joint Services Branch Color Guard
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Military Appreciation Day attracted members from the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard and Maryland National Guard to Laurel Park.
The Maryland Jockey Club raised $2,221 for the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund.
A Joint Services Branch Color Guard from nearby Fort Meade and a Mounted Unit from the National Guard presented the colors after fourth race. Following the sixth race, a Rody Race was contested on the turf course with representatives from the different branches of service. Attractions also included free admission and a complimentary American flag pin for all active and retired military plus 25% food and beverage discount.
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