LAUREL, MD—Dwelling Legacy immediately grabbed an early advantage under leading rider Yedsit Hazlewood and took two foes every step of the way in Friday’s featured second race at Laurel Park, a $56,000 allowance for fillies and mares over 5 ½ furlongs.

Sent away the odds-on favorite over the sealed, sloppy track, Dwelling Legacy was simply sharper from the starting stalls than her main rival, Conquerthosewecan, and cleared to the lead and the rail.

Hazlewood, the runner-up in last year’s Eclipse Award voting for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, rated the pace well, posting fractions of 23.54 and 47.17 seconds.

Conquerthosewecan made a solid bid at the three-sixteenths marker, but Dwelling Legacy was simply too strong, and the winner splashed under the wire 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Conquerthosewecan. Happy Clouds finished another ten lengths behind in third.

Conditioned by Gary Capuano, Dwelling Legacy covered the distance in 1:05.32 and paid $2.80 to win. Top Gun Girl and In My Memories scratched out.

“I was [surprised] she made the lead [so easily],” said breeder Frank Perri Jr., who campaigns Dwelling Legacy under his Pinochle Partners colors. “She’s pretty quick out of the gate. I didn’t know how she’d do in the slop. Once she got her footing, she seemed very comfortable, and Yedsit can ride. He’s incredible.”

Life hasn’t always been easy for Dwelling Legacy, a 5-year-old Maryland-bred mare by Blofeld, out of Dwelling Place by Forest Camp. Her second dam, Randy Cat, was a multiple Group 1 winner in Argentina and a member of the family of multiple Group 1 winner Rocking Trick.

“Her mom colicked the day she was born, and I had to get a nurse mare,” Perri explained. “It was a tough road, but she’s toughened it out and proved her mettle. Gary has done a fantastic job developing this horse. She’s grown up a little, and we were lucky.”

Dwelling Legacy began her career with trainer Brittany Russell, winning two of her first seven starts before being transferred to Capuano’s barn late in 2024.

She hit the board in her first five starts for Capuano, including a victory in a $40,000 conditioned claimer at Laurel, but she began her recent string of good races with a front-running victory in a two-turn sprint at Timonium on August 29.

Following a sixth-place finish in an open second-level allowance at Delaware on October 9, a race Capuano blamed on a deep, tiring track, Dwelling Legacy captured a second-level allowance at Laurel on December 7.

On January 17, Dwelling Legacy finished second, beaten only three-quarters of a length, by Passage East in the What a Summer Overnight Stakes. Passage East flattered that form by going on to win last week’s $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes.

*Around the track:

Hazlewood won two races on Friday’s program. Twenty-nine minutes after Dwelling Legacy’s win, he rallied from off the pace with Impressiveness ($3.40), owned, bred, and trained by Jamie Ness.

Ness earned his second training win this afternoon when Cocktail Humor ($5) captured the finale under jockey Mychel Sanchez.

Sanchez bookended the card, winning the opener on Jolly By Golly ($8) for trainer Hamilton Smith.

Live racing resumes Saturday. The first post for the nine-race program is at 12:00 pm ET, with two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout. Laurel Park hosts two $100,000 stakes races. The Miracle Wood is for 3-year-olds at one mile, and the Wide Country is for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Read the stakes advances here.

Join us for belated Mardi Gras festivities as Laurel Park presents “Flavors of the Bayou” on Saturday from noon to 4 pm. Your ticket includes authentic Cajun dishes, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, and a free betting voucher. For the full menu and ticket prices, visit here.

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. Saturday’s guide is now available. Click here to view it.

Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Kick back 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.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.