Lifelovenlaughter parlays perfect trip into victory
Laurel hosts “Father’s Day at the Races” on June 15

LAUREL, MD – On the Mark wore down odds-on favorite Haileysfirstnotion to win Friday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a $56,000 conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs.

On paper, the two main protagonists were Haileysfirstnotion, a Maryland-bred seeking his third consecutive victory for trainer Gary Capuano, and Augusta Melody, a Brittany Russell-trained Speightstown gelding also in search of a hat trick.

The quality lineup also included General Jim, who won the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile and Grade 3 Swale Stakes in 2023 and was returning from a ten-month layoff for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Petingas Twin, in the exacta in 11 of 14 starts, and Grade 3-placed Radical Right completed the field.

The complexion of the race changed somewhat when Augusta Melody broke slowly. That allowed General Jim and Haileysfirstnotion to spar for early command through splits of 22.99 and 46.02 seconds.

Jockey Tais Lyapustina kept On the Mark just off the leaders while outside and in the clear, and they pounced swinging into the stretch.

Haileysfirstnotice shrugged off General Jim and dug down doggedly, but On the Mark had him measured, getting his head in front after 1:10.55 over the fast track.

“I was really happy with how he settled in behind,” Lyapustina said after handing over a pair of goggles to a lucky young fan. “I wanted to keep him close to the two horses in front of us, and he did everything I asked him to do. We were sitting great around the turn, I thought. At the head of the lane, I thought whoever has the better horse is going to get it.”

A 5-year-old gelding bred in Kentucky by Burden Creek Farm and Springland Farm, On the Mark returned $22 to win.

Radical Right showed some late life to finish 1 ¼ lengths behind Haileysfirstnotion. Then came Petingas Twin, Augusta Melody, and General Jim.

“When I got to [Haileysfirstnotion] about the three-sixteenths pole, I figured that right now was where I was going to see how much I really had. He just never stopped, so I felt pretty confident at that point.”

On the Mark was winless from four prior starts this year but ran well on each occasion.

“We’ve had a couple of races where we’ve just had a little bit of bad luck,” Lyapustina admitted. “Like last time, away from the gate, he got bumped a bit. Today, I tried to make it as easy on him as possible to not be bumped around. I was ready for that, and it paid off.”

A half-brother to Grade 3-placed Percolator, On the Mark was claimed by trainer Joanne Shankle for $20,000 out of a maiden victory at Laurel on June 1, 2023. Overall, On the Mark has won seven times from 23 outings for $270,920.

“He’s a cool horse to be around,” Shankle said. “He tries. He gives all he’s got. The plan was to let the speed go, sit off the pace, and let him make a run.”

*Lifelovenlaughter parlays perfect trip into victory

For jockey Mychel Sanchez, it was a Friday afternoon of life, love, and laughter at Laurel Park.

After he gave Lifelovenlaughter a perfect pace-tracking, ground-saving trip in the seventh race, a second-level allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Sanchez was all smiles.

“She broke really sharp,” Sanchez said. “We kind of knew that coming off a layoff. We knew she was ready, but you never know how they’re going to finish up. Somebody is going to come [at them], especially off the layoff.”

Sent away the 3-2 betting favorite, Lifelovenlaughter ($5), tucked into the pocket as Bay Street powered up to set moderate fractions of 24.87 and 48.84. Princess Javoncia turned up the heat on the pacesetter on the second turn, but Lifelovenlaughter and her outer shadow, Next Girl, kept within striking range.

Sanchez angled Lifelovenlaughter off the fence, and they split Princess Javoncia and Next Girl to take the lead at the three-sixteenth pole. Next Girl fought hard, but Lifelovenlaughter always had her number, winning by a half-length in 1:42.21 over the firm turf course.

“I got a really good trip,” Sanchez continued. “I broke sharp, took her back a little bit, and just sat on the rail, waiting for the moment. She came through. She never quit. I always felt confident she was going to win. Although the other one was closing all the way around, I felt like she was just fighting, fighting. She did good.”

Bay Street finished third, two lengths behind Next Girl. Then came Past Tense, Princess Javoncia, Anoint, and The Amazing Mizzen.

Lifelovenlaughter got a bit hot in the paddock before the race, but that didn’t bother Sanchez.

“It was a hot day, and they’re athletes,” Sanchez said. “I’m an athlete, too, and we do workouts. You always sweat a little bit. When they do sweat between their legs, and they’re like really washed out, [that’s concerning], but it cooled off with a little breeze, so I wasn’t worried.”

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Lifelovenlaughter was a second-out winner of a maiden special weight at Pimlico during the summer of 2022. She conquered her first-level allowance condition the following summer at Saratoga in an off-turf event.

Last year, Lifelovenlaughter returned from the layoff to win her seasonal debut in a state-sired allowance over this course and distance at Laurel Park. After finishing last of seven in a second-level allowance over Gulfstream’s Tapeta on January 24 - her sixth consecutive defeat - Trombetta gave Lifelovenlaughter a freshening leading into this race.

Foaled in Maryland, Lifelovenlaughter is a homebred owned by Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group and is by Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid. She boasts a record of four wins from 17 starts for $246,425 in earnings.

*Enjoy Father’s Day at Laurel Park

Give Dad the ultimate Father’s Day experience with Laurel Park’s “Father’s Day at the Races” on Sunday, June 15, between noon and 4 pm ET.

Enjoy a specially designed buffet featuring Dad’s favorites – from perfectly grilled meats to classic sides, all prepared by our executive culinary team.

Davidus Cigars will provide Lord Baltimore Maduro Cigars in our designated smoking areas, and our Father’s Day bourbon bar features an exceptional selection of American whiskeys.

Laurel Park will also feature two special steeplechase events as well as the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf.

For tickets and more information, click here.