Whiteley Gets 24 Nominations

Whiteley Gets 24 Nominations

Toledo Tops Maryland Jocks in 2015
Pharoah Leads Maryland Eclipse Finalists
 
LAUREL, MD - Country Life Farm's Flash McCaul, who has finished second in four consecutive races including the Maryland Juvenile Futurity and Maryland Million Nursery, tops two dozen 3-year-olds nominated for the $75,000 Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes, one of three stakes races to be run Saturday, Jan. 16 at Laurel Park.
 
The Whiteley will headline the Jan. 16 card along with the $75,000 Fire Plug for older horses at six furlongs and the $75,000 Marshua Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs 
 
Along with Flash McCaul, a Maryland-bred son of Friesan Fire trained by Michael Trombetta, the seven furlong Whiteley could also include Huntin'theholidays, an 8 3/4-length winner last time out at Parx, Jarvis Steel, who won his racing debut here Dec. 12, and J W Racer from the barn of Robin Graham.
 
Any Court Inastorm leads 29 nominations for the Fire Plug. The 5-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal finished third last time out in the Jennings Handicap after winning an allowance optional claimer Oct. 25. Other nominees include Fabulous Strike winner Favorite Tale, third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Sonny Inspired,. fifth in the De Francis.
 
King of Prussia Stable's Mo d'Amour, who broke her maiden at Aqueduct at first asking before finishing seventh in the Demoiselle (G2) leads the nominations for the Marshua Stakes along with Trace of God, a winner of two of four starts, and Trulamo from the barn of Jamie Ness.
 
Toledo Tops Maryland Jocks in 2015
 
Jockey Jevian Toledo is excited about the new year after leading all riders in Maryland in 2015 with 141 victories.
 
Toledo, a native of Puerto Rico who won his first race in the U.S. at Pimlico in June of 2013, finished the 2015 season with eight more wins in Maryland than Victor Carrasco, who won Eclipse Award as top apprentice in 2013.
 
"Thanks to all the owners, trainers, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders and everybody who has helped me," Toledo said.
 
Fifth in the riding standings in 2014 with 63 victories, Toledo said the level of competition in Maryland has helped his riding. "A lot of good riders here, a lot of good riders come from out of town like Philadelphia and New Year," he continued. "It's very tough here, but a lot of trainers and owners have given me the opportunity."
 
As for his future plans, Toledo said; "I plan on staying here. I don't want to move. I'd doing good with my agent [Marty Leonard] and I want to stay here."
 
Pharoah Leads Maryland Eclipse Finalists
 
Preakness Stakes and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah leads a group of finalists for the 45th Eclipse Awards, to be held Saturday, Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.
 
American Pharoah is a finalist for Horse of the Year and 3-year-old Male while trainer Bob Baffert, jockey Victor Espinoza and owner Zayat Stables are finalists in their respective categories.
 
Stopchargingmaria, winner of the DuPont Distaff (G3) May 15 at Pimlico, is a finalist in the Older Dirt Female category while Lady Shipman, winner of the Stormy Blues at Pimlico April 18, is a finalist in the Female Sprinter category.
 
Midwest Thoroughbreds, which led all Maryland owners in 2015 with 30 victories, was named a finalist for Owner of the Year along with Zayat Stables and Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey.
 
The Eclipse Awards can be watched live online at Xpressbet.com.