LAUREL, MD. 09-21-13---Under a patient ride by Rosie Napravnik, Tricky Hat (CHI) took the short way home, arriving first at the finish in the 1-1/2 mile $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup.

Scoring his first stakes victory and fourth lifetime win for trainer Shug McGaughey, Tricky Hat stalked the eager pacesetters while saving ground during the marathon turf test contested under rainy conditions. When the field turned for home, Tricky Hat emerged from the pack along the rail, opened a short lead and held off late closer Eagle Poise to win by a neck, with Macho Mas Macho taking third.

“We had a great trip and he handled the wet turf well,” said Napravnik.  “We were sitting in a good spot and I was able to get through on the inside. The horse was the class of the race.”

Napravnik began her career in Maryland as a 17-year-old apprentice rider in 2005.

Assistant-trainer Jenn Patterson said, “I talked to Rosie beforehand. This is the kind of horse you need to get into the race and she did that. He’d had a good run last time at Saratoga, so we decided to give him the opportunity to step up.”

The winner is owned by Andrew Rosen, Robert Trussell & Gainesway Stable.  He paid $9.80.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.