Pont Aven earns 5% Maryland Million Maiden Bonus
LAUREL, MD—Trainer Jamie Ness enjoyed a successful Sunday afternoon at Laurel Park, winning three races, highlighted by Badge of War’s well-earned victory in the featured seventh, a first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.
Ness’s banner day started in the third race, as Golden Eib Micrphn ($4.20) pushed the pace under jockey Martin Chuan before pulling away to win by 7 ¾ lengths.
In the sixth race, Aztec ($6) rallied from off the pace under jockey Mychel Sanchez to narrowly beat pacesetter Frosty the Giant in the shadow of the wire.
Badge of War had to put in a lot of effort to achieve Ness’s hat trick. Ridden by Chuan, the 5-year-old War Front gelding was asked for early speed from the outside post.
Clearly, Chuan aimed to take the lead, but jockey Yedsit Hazlewood had other plans aboard rail-drawn Joe the Jet.
Badge of War and Joe the Jet engaged in a heated pace dispute through an opening quarter in 23.51 seconds. Hazlewood finally blinked in the game of chicken, conceding the lead and allowing Badge of War to cross over to the rail after a half-mile in 47.24 seconds.
Badge of War finished six furlongs in 1:12.76, with Joe the Jet right behind. Meanwhile, the closers sat back with drooling jaws, expecting the pace to collapse, but their late rallies never materialized.
Joe the Jet made a brave effort, but Badge of War held strong, winning by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:53.92 on the muddy, sealed track. Georgia Magic finished two lengths behind in third, followed by Chileno and Formal Affair. Missouri River scratched.
Favored Badge of War paid $4.80.
“Today, I thought going to the front was the best move,” said Chuan. “He likes it. I watched the replays when he won at Parx, and he likes the front.”
Chuan admitted he wasn’t surprised that Joe the Jet was so aggressive.
“Honestly, not much,” he said. “He’s fast, but I chose to go to the front, and that was it. He likes fighting, and today he proved it.”
Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte, Badge of War is a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun. Their dam, Brooch, was a Group 2 winner on turf in Ireland.
He started twice on turf for trainer Brad Cox before being sold for $50,000 at a public auction. He raced once for trainer David Jacobson and was claimed for $40,000 by Rick Dutrow.
Badge of War won twice from 14 starts for Dutrow before Ness claimed him for $40,000 last fall for Madison Avenue Racing and Morris Kernan Jr.
Badge of War won his debut for Ness, a $40,000 non-3 claimer at Parx on December 22, then finished eighth of ten in a high-level allowance on January 14. Last month, he ran very competitively, battling other pace rivals intensely before narrowly losing by a nose.
Badge of War has won four of 21 races, earning $227,830.
*Around the track:
Maryland-bred maiden winner Pont Aven earned a 5% bonus for his victory in Sunday’s fifth race. The bonus program, which started on March 1, rewards Maryland Million-eligible horses that win maiden races within the state. Only horses sired by Maryland Million stallions, conceived in Maryland, and fully nominated and certified for the Maryland Million program are eligible. Stallions must have been nominated in the year the horse was conceived. Pont Aven ($12.80) is a 3-year-old colt by Blofeld out of Sweet Talking Girl, by Candy Ride. Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Skeedattle Associates, Pont Aven is owned by Day At The Races LLC and trained by Michael Trombetta.
Barbara Fritchie winner Passage East covered one mile in 1:50 flat Sunday morning, alongside recent second-level allowance winner Think Fast. Both are trained by Hugh McMahon.
Jockey J G Torrealba scored a riding double on Sunday. Torrealba won the opener on Buckin’ Right ($4) for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon. He also guided Pont Aven.
Live racing resumes Friday with an eight-race card. The first post is at 12:00 pm ET. Additionally, Laurel Park offers two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate.
The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. Get picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.
Join the fun on Sunday, March 15, for Laurel Park’s St. Paddy’s Day Celebration. Enjoy free admission, along with food and drink specials.
Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Relax with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas at our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch starts at 11:00 am ET. Learn more here.
Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.
Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club X account. Click here to watch.
