Peruvian native riding full-time at Laurel Park
$13,371.30 carryover into Friday’s late “Value Pick 5”

LAUREL, MD—Jockey Martin Chuan rode the winners of both featured races at Laurel Park on Sunday.

“This is like my home in Peru,” Chuan said after capturing the ninth race, a $50,000 optional claimer for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Bala de Plata broke from a tough outside post, and Chuan made sure to be aggressive to avoid losing too much ground entering the first bend. Our Day Will Come was quicker from the gate, but Chuan was intent on making the lead.

He grabbed it from the outside after completing an opening quarter in 23.55 seconds.

“I was going to the lead because he likes it,” Chuan said about Bala de Plata. “I was watching the replays, and when he won at Parx [maiden race on Oct. 14], he got a little [headstrong] going into the first turn.”

Our Day Will Come conceded and Bala de Plata moved closer to the inside while clear by 2 ½ lengths after a half mile in 47.88 seconds.

“He relaxed when he was in front,” Chuan said. “That was the [key] for the win today.”

Bala de Plata cruised through six furlongs in 1:12.76, swapped back to his left lead in midstretch, then finished 2 ½ lengths ahead of a rail-skimming, late-rallying Dancing Denae. Odds-on favorite Wild Warrior got up for third, 2 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up. Our Day Will Come, G Q Worthy, Concarneau, and Parkes were next.

“He was playing in the stretch,” Chuan noticed. “He kept going.”

Bala de Plata ran the distance in 1:47.26 over the fast track and paid $15.80 as the fifth choice in the betting. Mo Missile and Mose Smokin scratched.

A gray son of Valiant Minister, Bala de Plata races for trainer Jamie Ness’s Jagger Inc. in partnership with Super C Racing. Bred in Florida by Baoma Corporation, Bala de Plata sold for $5,000 as a yearling before being purchased by Ness for $32,000 earlier this year.

After hitting the board twice in turf sprints at Colonial Downs, Bala de Plata stretched out around two turns, moved to dirt, and added blinkers. Those changes proved successful when he graduated at Parx on Oct. 14 in a $40,000 maiden claimer.

Represented by agent John Weilbacher, Chuan began teaming up regularly with Ness at Delaware Park this year. He finished third in the jockey standings there with 66 wins, nine less than perennial leader Jaime Rodriguez.

“Jamie is a nice trainer,” Chuan said. “He supported me all summer at Delaware and Penn, and now here.”

Chuan is having a banner year in 2025, with career highs in victories (103) and earnings ($2,872,605). One of those wins came aboard Sporting Lady in the eighth race, a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at 5 ½ furlongs over the firm All Along Turf Course.

A 3-year-old filly trained by Keri Brion, Sporting Lady broke nicely under Chuan, then found a lovely pace-tracking, ground-saving position behind pacesetters Up for It and So Darn Pretty.

Those two raced the opening quarter in 22.52, but one always had the sense that Sporting Lady loomed a danger, despite being dismissed at 30-1 on the tote board. Chuan eased Sporting Lady three wide and into the clear turning into the long stretch, and they zipped home 1 ½ lengths better than late-kicking J Z’s Last Schance.

Up for It was another four lengths back in third. Big Earn, Waittilmidnitehour, Wellareyouhappynow, Chantico, So Darn Pretty, and Levigata completed the order of finish. Velvet Vixen, Old Bay, Crusader Rabbit, and Grayson’s Girl withdrew.

After finishing up in 1:02.91, Sporting Lady returned a whopping $70.60 as the eighth choice

“She broke good today,” Chuan stated. “I talked to Keri about the race, and she told me that [Sporting Beauty] didn’t need to go to the front. I sat behind the speed and got a perfect trip.”

Some riders find the second-wire finish in turf sprints daunting at times, but Chuan noted that the stretches in Peru are of similar length.

As for Sporting Lady, perhaps she was unfairly maligned as an outsider. After all, she had cracked the exacta in six of eight previous starts. Her only off-the-board finishes came in her career debut against restricted stakes company and her most recent start, where she tired very badly to finish last.

Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm Equine, Sporting Lady was purchased for $100,000 as a yearling, then was bought back for $170,000 after failing to meet her reserve last year. She campaigns for Three Diamonds Farm and has earned $172,900.

*Around the track:

Trainer Lacey Gaudet swept the early daily double with Koru ($7) and Lady Charlotte ($5)…Trainer Jose Corrales won two races with 2-year-olds as Last Gift ($13.20) prompted and pounced to take the fifth race, and Curlene’s Spirit ($4.20) scored by open lengths in the seventh…Jockey Johan Rosado rode two winners. After Koru’s opening race tally, Rosado led Wicked Boss ($9.60) to a rallying victory in the sixth race…Live racing resumes Friday with a 10-race program. The first post time is 12:00 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate. There is a $13,371.30 carryover into Friday’s Late “Value Pick 5”…The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. See picks, a full-card analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and lots more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of analysts. Friday’s Guide can be found on Thursday evening here: click here to view…Laurel Park is proud to salute our military heroes with a Saturday Veterans Day program that includes two stakes races. Active-duty military and veterans will receive 50% off food and beverages at all concession stands throughout the day with proof of military identification…Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays”. Kick back with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas in our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch begins at 11:00 am ET…Don’t miss a second of the action with the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to catch pan and head-on replays.