LAUREL, MD. 01-26-13---Country Life Farm’s Moon Filly took the short way home, tracking the pace from her position along the fence, then tipping out to pass the front runner and pull away to win the $125,000 Nellie Morse Stakes for fillies and mares at Laurel Park.

Jeremy Rose was at the controls as the daughter of Malibu Moon lived up to her role as 4-5 favorite to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:44.67 for the 1-1/16^th mile distance. Touch The Birds stayed on after leading all the way into the stretch to hold second while Access To Charlie, who was in the hunt throughout, finished third. Moon Filly paid $3.60.

“It is one of the few races that placed out just like I hoped,” Rose said. “It seemed like horses weren’t winning from the lead today and ones that were behind the second or third flight weren’t closing either, so coming from the rail I got her to relax and into proper position hoping the six (Touch The Birds) would open up a length on the field so I could get to where I wanted.”

The Mike Trombetta trainee had a troubled trip last time out  in the Cat Cay Stakes at Aqueduct on January 6. After stumbling at the gate, the 4-year old had to jump a fallen horse in the stretch but still managed to take second.  Moon Philly has been a model of consistency last year with ten first or second place finishes in 13 career starts.

“She’s getting better each start,” added Rose. “I like how many gears she has. It is hard to win the big races with true speed. There is always somebody to push you. True closers can’t always get there, so to win the big races you need to have tactical speed and multiple gears. She has those multiple gears and is very easy to ride.”

Trombetta has now won three stakes races in the last six live racing days at Laurel: also winning the Frank Whiteley with Ore Pass last Saturday and the Native Dancer with Private Tale Monday.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.