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Greenspring
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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LAUREL, MD. 11-25-09---While the Maryland Jockey Club cards a nine-race program at Laurel Park on the Thanksgiving holiday, two of the state’s top sprinters with be in New York to compete in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct. Greenspring (5-1) and Ah Day (6-1) are the fourth and fifth choices in the 10-horse field, which also includes morning line favorite Go Go Shoot and 2008 Preakness also-ran Riley Tucker.
Ah Day, conditioned at Laurel Park by King Leatherbury, is the more accomplished horse to date with 10 career stakes victories, including the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct in March. After finishing fifth in the Grade I Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash on Oct. 24, the son of Malibu Moon has produced a pair of bullet works. Sheldon Russell, who has been aboard in five of Ah Day’s nine races this year, including the De Francis Dash and Toboggan, has the riding assignment.
“Ah Day really likes it when they go fast up front,” Russell said. “The horse has been working really well and has a live chance. He’ll definitely be coming late and if all goes well we’ll be right there.”
Trained by Chris Grove at the Bowie Training Center, Greenspring is a star in the making after delivering a powerful performance at Laurel on Oct. 30. The son of Orientate is four for five during his 4-year-old campaign and will have the riding services of Jeremy Rose.
“The next step in the progression is to take on stakes winners,” Grove said. “This is a very evenly matched field and I think the race sets up well. There will be plenty of speed and he’ll make a big move. Hopefully his is the best of those late moves. Jeremy has ridden him four times and told me the horse drives himself and is completely aware of what he needs to do to get in front. The horse is very smart, very cocky and very competitive.”
Grove’s goal for Greenspring is the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel on Feb. 15, 2010. Sweet Goodbye, the top filly is the barn, is pointing towards the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap two days earlier. Morumsco, the stable’s top 2-year-old, was a sharp winner in afternoon’s 7th race and is expected to finish the year in the $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship on Dec. 12.
Hatfield, the 20-1 longshot, also has local ties. Trainer Gary Contessa shipped the son of Proud Citizen to Laurel twice this fall for allowance scores, with Russell riding.
Laurel Park offers a special 11:05 a.m. post time Thursday. Headlining the day will be the 22nd annual pie giveaway (pumpkin or apple) after the fifth race at both Laurel and its sister track, Pimlico Race Course. Free donuts with coffee or cider will also be available from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Laurel’s terrace dining room will feature a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving buffet for $22.95.
Friday will be “Guys Day Out” with free admission to Laurel Park for all men, half-priced draft beers and giveaways, including chances to win tickets to Baltimore Ravens, Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals and University of Maryland games.
The holiday week wraps up Saturday afternoon with a Mystery Voucher promotion. The first 1,128 (Nov. 28) paid fans through the gates will receive a voucher valued between $2 and $500. The nine-race program will be headlined by the $50,000 Jennings Handicap.
-MJC-