Hold Out strikes on turf for Boyce and Stettinius

LAUREL, MD—“She’s a little sassy, a little opinionated, like her mama,” assistant trainer Tana Aubrey said of Hark Theangelssing after the Mendelssohn filly rallied down the center of the track to win Friday’s co-featured sixth race at Laurel Park, a first-level allowance for juvenile fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. "She's pretty professional in the morning. You just got to watch her when she bucks. She left her rider at the gap one day.”

On this day, Hark Theangelssing left her opponents gasping for air. Ridden by Ismerio Villalabos, she settled back in last as Dancingwithdestiny set fractions of 22.16 and 44.67 seconds while pressured by favored Aldene.

Dancingwithdestiny dismissed her primary pace pursuer in upper stretch, but appeared fatigued at the furlong pole. Just as it looked like a rallying Dale’s Bluff would swoop in and grab top honors, Harktheangelssing emerged on the scene. The Mendelssohn filly surged past Dale’s Bluff to score by 1 ½ lengths in 1:02.58 over the firm course.

Dale’s Bluff finished three lengths ahead of Dancingwithdestiny. Aldene, Ivy Garden, Quick Sand, and Midnight Queen completed the order of finish. In Her Glory, Tap Into Grace, Ballykeefe, and Pichu scratched.

Hark Theangelssing returned $11.20 as the third choice in the wagering.

"She's okay, this filly,” Aubrey said. "She's got a nice turn of foot. She quickens up.”

Foaled in Virginia, Hark Theangelssing is a homebred owned by the Estate of Larry Johnson, a top breeder and longtime client of trainer Michael Trombetta. Johnson passed away earlier this year. Still, his family continues the tradition of racing top horses in the Mid-Atlantic region.

"It's exciting because we trained the mom, and it's one of Larry's,” Aubrey said. “She looks just like her, a dark, steel gray."

Trombetta conditioned Hark Theangelssing’s first two dams, both bred by Johnson. Grandma Kelly’s Question won a five-furlong turf sprint at Colonial in 2003. Hark Theangelssing’s mama, Questionoftheday, captured three dirt sprints. Trombetta also trains the winner’s half sister, Beyond Question, who finished second in a claiming race sprinting on the turf here on September 28.

Hark Theangelssing, a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, rallied from midpack to grab her career debut, a maiden special weight traveling five furlongs on turf at Colonial on July 19.

"She was one of the most forward ones when she came in,” Aubrey said.

Hark Theangelssing started at Colonial the following month, and finished fourth as the 3-2 second choice in the restricted Dolly Madison Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

“She kind of got ran off her feet. That's not really how she likes to run. She likes to get herself together, and then go,” Aubrey explained.

Plans are pending for Hark Theangelssing, but Aubrey won’t be surprised if the filly gets the rest of the year off.

“She's growing,” Aubrey said. “She looks to me like she's gotten bigger since her last race. She's going to be a big girl when she gets done growing."

*Hold Out strikes for Boyce and Stettinius

With seven winners from her last 21 starters, trainer Suzanne Stettinius’s stable is on a serious roll.

The streak continued on Friday as Hold Out stalked and pounced to grab the eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Hold Out was an unlucky loser in his previous start, a first-level starter allowance at Colonial on August 15. The 4-year-old gelding battled for the early lead, disdainfully dispatched his early challenge, then was immediately confronted by winning Naptown, who recently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. It was a classic example of a horse that won the battle but lost the war.

This time, jockey Forest Boyce was mindful of rationing Hold Out’s potent speed. Racing under the wire the first time, Boyce rated a hard-pulling Hold Out to sit just off longshots Liam’s the Great and Elusive Image.

Hold Out ($4.20), traveled comfortably entering the far turn, made an outside bid to the front swinging into the straight, then stayed about his business to win by 2 ½ lengths in 1:42.22.

Salted Carmel finished second to complete the chalky exacta. Phil’s Prince nipped Maclean’s Rook for the show spot with Toolpusher, Name It, Elusive Image, and Liam’s the Great rounding out the order of finish.

"He was much better today than he has been, to be honest," Boyce said about Hold Out's willingness to relax. "It's good that we were able to tuck him in. I tried to save as much as I could for the [stretch drive]."

Bred by Godolphin, Hold Out is a Street Boss half-brother to Grade 1-placed turf miler Degree of Risk out of a winning half-sister to Grade 1-winning dirt sprinter Emcee from the family of Grade 1-winning dirt sprinter Awesome Humor.

Claimed for $50,000 by Claudio Gonzalez at Turfway Park during the winter of 2024, Hold Out was taken by Stettinius and Petticoats Loose Stable for $30,000 out of a winning effort last fall. Hold Out boasts a lifetime record of three wins from 15 starts, earning $108,449.

*Around the track:

Boyce completed a riding double in the finale as Summer Vibes ($15.80) rambled on the far outside to win for trainer Lacey Gaudet…Teenage apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood also booted home two winners as First Pearl ($6.80) romped by seven lengths in the fourth race while Intrepid Mo ($5) raced wide throughout to win the seventh…With 11 victories, Hazlewood is tied for the meet lead with veteran Jevian Toledo…Live racing resumes Saturday with a ten-race program. First post time is 12:07 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers with a low takeout rate of 12%…Laurel Park is proud to host “Oyster Fest” on Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. ET. It’s a day of fresh flavors, family fun, and thrilling live Thoroughbred racing, all in one spot. Admission is free. For more information, click here …Bids are still being taken for the Maryland Million Silent Auction. All proceeds benefit the Maryland Horse Foundation and Saddle Up Scholars. Click here for items and bidding information.