I’m a Sure Thing wins first turf race of 2026
Yedsit Hazlewood rides three winners

LAUREL, MD—Ms Notion’s inspiring comeback continued at Laurel Park on Friday, when the 4-year-old filly by Great Notion dominated four rivals in the featured seventh race, a $48,000 allowance for state-bred or state-sired fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

“She’s just a quality filly,” said winning trainer Phil Capuano after Ms Notion and jockey Forest Boyce cruised home 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Looks First in 1:25.83 on the fast track.

Ms Notion, the prohibitive 1/20 favorite on the toteboard, paid $2.10 to her many backers.

Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Ms Notion is by Great Notion, Maryland’s top sire, who was pensioned last year. A half-sister to the stakes-winning sprinter Talk to the Judge, Ms Notion was bought as a yearling by television personality Maury Povich’s Mopo Racing for $52,000.

Ms Notion’s story has been one of patience and perseverance.

One of the most talented juvenile fillies to race at Laurel in 2024, Ms Notion has seen her blossoming career delayed by myriad physical issues.

“Since the beginning, as a 2-year-old, she really separated herself early on,” Capuano said last week. “Even around May or June of 2024, she was outworking stake horses and showing everything that you wanted to see out of a nice 2-year-old.”

Capuano said that Ms Notion had some splint issues that delayed her debut, but it was worth the wait because she won an open maiden special weight by four lengths on November 15.

Ms Notion entered the restricted Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes 22 days later but stumbled at the start and lost her rider shortly after breaking from the rail post.

“I gave her a little bit of time after that,” Capuano added. “She was ready to run last June when she came up with some pretty bad bone bruising. It’s been a long journey, frustrating, but when they have that kind of talent, you try to give them every opportunity to make it to the races. I give Maury all the credit in the world. He’s been incredibly patient.”

Ms Notion finished third in her long-awaited return on February 15 of this year, then surged to a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure by winning an open first-level allowance on March 15. The moment was emotional for Capuano.

“Everybody has put a lot of work in,” Capuano explained after that victory. “Between the exercise riders, the grooms, the hotwalkers, even the guys on the gate [crew]. They’re the unsung heroes, everyone who puts in the day-to-day work with these horses.”

Ms Notion withdrew from last Saturday’s $100,000 Heavenly Cause Stakes to wait for this easier spot.

“If she’s a stakes horse now, she’ll be a stakes horse later, as long as she stays healthy and happy,” said Capuano, who added that Ms Notion’s long-term goal is the Maryland Million Distaff on October 24. “As long as she continues to do well, we’ll have plenty of opportunities.”

*I’m a Sure Thing wins first turf race of 2026

The bettors believed she was a sure thing, and the bay mare lived up to her name in the first turf race at Laurel Park this year.

I’m a Sure Thing ($4) settled on the outside in the second flight under jockey Angel Cruz, eased three wide into the stretch, then stormed down the Kelso Turf Course to win the $16,000 claiming race for fillies and mares who had never won three times.

A 6-year-old mare by Le Havre, I’m a Sure Thing is trained by Horacio De Paz. While De Paz’s turf runners aren’t necessarily sure things, they have offered exceptional betting opportunities at Laurel Park.

After I’m a Sure Thing’s victory, De Paz’s record with local grass horses stood at 11 wins from the last 29 starters, good enough for a 38% strike rate and nearly $5 in return on investment.

*Yedsit Hazlewood rides three winners

Yedsit Hazlewood, Maryland’s leading rider by wins in 2025, extended his hot streak at Laurel Park on Friday.

Hazlewood, 18, rode three consecutive winners on the program, including two saddled by Jamie Ness, who won Laurel’s recently concluded winter meet training title.

Hazlewood gave a patient ride aboard Kerness K ($2.20) in the third race for Ness. After being bumped at the start, Kerness K, a confirmed front-runner, found himself at the back of the pack. The teenage sensation didn’t panic, however, and he guided Kerness K between rivals on the turn before angling outside for the winning bid.

In the fourth race, Hazlewood and Ness struck again with Noted ($7), who slipped through the inside to eke out a three-horse photo finish.

Hazlewood rated Gripen ($5.60) off the pace in the fifth race, then advanced to take the lead in the upper stretch for trainer Robbie Bailes.

Hazlewood rode his first race last year. Despite his inexperience and an injury that kept him out for a couple of months, he won 137 races in 2025, earning $4,461,869. Those numbers caught the national racing media's attention, and Hazlewood finished second in the Eclipse Award balloting for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.

Agent John DiNitale represents Hazlewood, who is currently leading the nation in wins this year. His 98 victories put him three ahead of Samuel Marin, 14 ahead of Jose Ortiz, and 15 ahead of Irad Ortiz, Jr.

*Around the track:

Live racing resumes Saturday with a nine-race card. Additionally, Laurel Park offers two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Saturday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Laurel Park proudly hosts the Preakness Preview Day Handicapping Challenge, a one-day contest available both on-site and online. The event takes place on Saturday, April 18, at Laurel Park or via Xpressbet, TwinSpires, and TVG/4NJBETS. The $500 contest ($250 entry fee, $250 bankroll) offers Win, Place, Show, Exacta, and/or Daily Double wagering on the full schedule of live races at Laurel Park. Contestants must play at least five (5) races, with a minimum $50 bet per race. Based on 120 entries, the total prize pool is $30,000, which includes one full seat to the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge ($10,000 value) and two National Handicapping Championship Prize Packs ($5,350 value, including a $400 flight voucher and hotel stay). Additionally, the top five finishers will split $9,300 in prize money, with $4,650 going to the winner, $1,860 to the runner-up, $1,395 to the third-place finisher, $930 to the fourth, and $465 to the fifth-place finisher. All entry fees are returned as prizes. The listed prizes are estimates, and the actual prizes will depend on the final number of participants. For complete rules and registration details, please visit here.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club X account. Click here to watch.