Racing News

Takethemoneyhoney Steals Away In Geisha Stakes

01/17/2026

Passage East takes What A Summer Overnight Handicap

By Vinnie Perrone

LAUREL, MD--On a cold, gray afternoon, Takethemoneyhoney cut a vivid figure through the Laurel Park homestretch.

Carrying Eliseo Ruiz in fluorescent green silks and the laden hopes of horseplayers, Takethemoneyhoney slipped free of two dogged pursuers through the far turn and scampered to a 6 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Geisha Stakes as a 1-10 favorite.

Quint’s Brew Successfully Defends Jennings Title

01/17/2026

Point Dume very game in Fire Plug Overnight Handicap

LAUREL, MD—At Laurel Park on Saturday, Quint’s Brew leaned his neck out in the shadow of the wire and edged Blue Kingdom by the slimmest of margins in the $100,000 Jennings Stakes for 4-year-olds and older, bred or sired in Maryland or Virginia.

It was the second straight Jennings win for Quint’s Brew, who parlayed a six-length triumph in the 2025 edition into a 101-Beyer win in the $200,000 General George Stakes at Laurel.

Apprentice Pedro Pena Rides First Winner

01/16/2026

Suremeanttoobe upsets Friday feature

LAUREL, MD—Apprentice jockey Pedro Pena earned his first victory, guiding Diamond N Dress to win Friday’s second race at Laurel Park, a $16,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles.

The victory came in Pena’s 31st start of his career.

“It feels good,” said Pena, 25, a native of the Dominican Republic. “La primera.”

Quint’s Brew Defends Title in Jennings

01/15/2026

Takethemoneyhoney favored in Geisha
Hold Your Breath ships sharp for What a Summer Overnight Handicap
Competitive group lines up for Fire Plug Overnight Handicap

LAUREL, MD—Paul Berube, Karen Linnell, and Heather Hunter’s Quint’s Brew, an eight-length winner of last year’s Jennings Stakes, defends his title in Saturday’s renewal, one of four $100,000 races on the ten-race program at Laurel Park.

Let’s Go Lando Another Capuano Winner

01/10/2026

Momaxie remains unbeaten
Charm City Pick 5 Contest Returns for Winter Meet

LAUREL, MD—For the second consecutive day, trainer Gary Capuano and jockey Yedsit Hazlewood teamed up to win with a promising 3-year-old at Laurel Park.

On Friday, it was Awesome Andy.

This afternoon, Let’s Go Lando enjoyed a comfortable victory in the seventh race, a $49,000 first-level allowance over one mile.

Let’s Go Lando Another Capuano Winner

01/10/2026

Momaxie remains unbeaten
Charm City Pick 5 Contest Returns for Winter Meet

LAUREL, MD—For the second consecutive day, trainer Gary Capuano and jockey Yedsit Hazlewood teamed up to win with a promising 3-year-old at Laurel Park.

On Friday, it was Awesome Andy.

This afternoon, Let’s Go Lando enjoyed a comfortable victory in the seventh race, a $49,000 first-level allowance over one mile.

Awesome Andy Wins Second Straight Start

01/09/2026

“Charm City Pick 5” Handicapping Contest Returns for Winter Meet
$17,328,56 carryover into Saturday’s late “Value Pick 5”

LAUREL, MD—Trainer Gary Capuano saddled 16 juvenile winners in 2025.

One of them, Awesome Andy, showed no fear of the dreaded “sophomore jinx,” rallying along the rail under teenage phenom Yedsit Hazlewood to win Friday’s eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 5 ½ furlongs.

TMJC Reports Handle Increase in 2025

01/08/2026

2026 Winter Meet Begins Friday, January 9

LAUREL, MD—Fresh off a successful 2025 season, The Maryland Jockey Club rings in the New Year on Friday, January 9, the opening day of the Laurel Park Winter Meet.

In 2025, there were 1,109 races over 119 live racing days at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course. The average per-race handle was $365,637, up 14.29% from the previous year.

The average daily handle for races at Laurel and Pimlico in 2025 reached $3,407,493, a 13.49% increase over 2024.

Yedsit Hazlewood a Finalist for 2025 Eclipse Award

01/05/2026

Splendora a finalist for Older Dirt Female, Female Sprinter honors
Preakness winner Journalism a finalist in 3-Year-Old Male category
Swore a finalist for Champion Steeplechase Horse Award

LAUREL, MD—Yedsit Hazlewood, Maryland’s top rider last year, is one of three finalists for the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.

The winner will be announced at the 55th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, presented by John Deere, the Jockey Club, and the NTRA, on Thursday, January 22, at 7:30 pm ET.

Hazlewood, Russell Capture Fall Meet and Yearly Honors

12/30/2025

Live racing resumes Friday, January 9

LAUREL, MD—Yedsit Hazlewood and Brittany Russell concluded 2025 in style, capturing the jockey and trainer titles at the Laurel Park Fall meeting.

Both Hazlewood and Russell also earned year-end honors as the leading jockey and trainer at TMJC-operated racetracks.

Hazlewood, 17, a leading contender for the 2025 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, ran away with the Fall Meet Title, which spanned from Sept. 5 to Dec. 28.