LAUREL, MD. 09-25-13---High Five Racing’s Emotional Stroll was up in the final jump to win today’s seventh race at Laurel Park, a $40,000 maiden special weight test for 2-year-olds on the main track.

Phlash Phelps, the 6-5 post time favorite, raced to the lead in the six furlong test on the main track, but was hounded throughout by another first time starter, Olde Bay. Phlash Phelps fought gallantly to pull away but he could not withstand the furious close of Emotional Stroll and jockey Matthew Rispoli.

Seven of the nine runners in the race were first-time starters, including the winner, who is trained by Graham Motion.

“I just left him alone and he made a nice run at the end. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Rispoli, one of the top riders at Penn National, who began his career in Maryland in 2009. “It looked like an even race on paper. Graham just told me to keep him comfortable and make a run.”

The son of Stroll, who won by a head, stopped the clock in 1:12.11 and paid $15.80. Pax Orbis was another head back in third. The first seven finishers were separated by just five lengths.

Motion has three victories in the first four days of the Laurel Park fall meeting.

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.