Grayson’s Girl rallies to win the Safely Kept Stakes

LAUREL, MD— When owner-trainer Joanne Shankle claimed Zero Blitz for $20,000 on April 18, she felt that she was purchasing a decent horse.

“He ran good the first two times out, and we thought we would take a shot,” Shankle said in the Laurel Park winner’s circle after Zero Blitz upset the field in Saturday’s $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Zero Blitz won his first two starts for Shankle, then hit the board in four of his next five races, including a second-level allowance victory at Laurel on Oct. 26. Those promising performances enticed Shankle to try Zero Blitz in stakes company for the first time in the City of Laurel.

“He’d been doing better and better every day,” Shankle said.

Zero Blitz did his best in the City of Laurel, a race that featured multiple stakes-winner Pay Billy, as well as stakes-winners Spotafreeone and Pascaline.

Breaking from the far outside post in the nine-horse field under jockey J.G. Torrealba, Zero Blitz settled into stalking position as favored Otter Mischief stepped the opening quarter in 22.93 seconds. Chipotle then joined the pacesetter, and they raced the half in 45.87 seconds.

At this juncture, Torrealba began scrubbing away on Zero Blitz. Little by little, they gained on the leaders.

Chipotle was the first to crack, leaving Otter Mischief on top, but racing on the wrong lead. Pascaline snuck up the rail, and Bold Diversion was a gray streak on the outside, but Zero Blitz traveled best.

Under the wire, it was Zero Blitz by a half-length over a game Otter Mischief. Bold Diversion, also conditioned by Shankle, placed another half-length behind in third. Then came Pascaline, Chipotle, Pay Billy, Spotafreeone, Top Blood, and Light Forever.

Zero Blitz completed the distance in 1:24.65 seconds over the fast track and returned $26.60 as the sixth choice. Slam Notion, Saxton, and Dreambuilder scratched.

Shankle is impressed by Zero Blitz’s demeanor.

“He’s good. He’s quiet. He’s easy to ride,” she said.

Zero Blitz was bred in Kentucky by Conroy Thoroughbreds. A gelded son of Jimmy Creed out of stakes-winning sprinter Blitzing, by Montbrook, Zero Blitz raced three times for trainer Anthony Farrior before being haltered by Shankle.

He is now unbeaten in six Laurel Park starts and has earned $199,598.

*Grayson’s Girl rallies to win the Safely Kept Stakes

“She's an honest filly,” said winning rider Jevian Toledo about Safely Kept Stakes winner Grayson’s Girl. “She always shows up.”

That she does.

After the $100,000 Safely Kept, a six-furlong heat for 3-year-old fillies, Grayson’s Girl’s lifetime record stands at nine starts, three wins, three seconds, and three thirds.

"Look at her form," marveled winning trainer Brittany Russell. "She's never run a bad race for us. There's not much to her, but I tell you what. She's good-training, she's good-moving, and she's hearty. You bring her over to the races, and she runs."

Grayson’s Girl ($13.60), the 5-1 third choice in the betting, wasn’t away the best, but that might have worked in her favor as In My Memories, Onyx Ten, Think Fast, and Tap Dancin Cowgirl scrimmaged through a 23.46 opening stanza.

“I was hoping to be a little bit closer to the pace, but they broke out of there running, and my filly likes to come from behind,” Toledo said.

Onyx Ten, the odds-on favorite seeking her third consecutive victory, poked a head in front after a half-mile in 46.53, but she was immediately confronted by Think Fast, who had won her last two starts by a combined 30 lengths in Illinois.

Think Fast grabbed the advantage in the midstretch, but Grayson’s Girl had built up a head of steam, and she rolled by the leader to prevail by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:25.01. Think Fast was a half-length better than Onyx Ten. Tap Dancin Cowgirl, Zip Start, In My Memories, and Late Nite Call were next.

“I just sat behind and tried to get her outside,” Toledo said. “She liked it. I think she's better outside horses.”

"It worked out today," Russell said. "She does what she has to do. That's how she wants to run. She wants to be a closing sprinter."

Purchased by John Middleton for $50,000 as a yearling, Grayson’s Girl is by Gift Box out of Drinking Dixie, a Quality Road mare that was stakes-placed racing one mile at Prairie Meadows. The second dam, Made Up, earned two stakes-placings routing on dirt.

The Safely Kept honors the champion sprinter of 1989 and a member of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame Class of 2011. The daughter of longtime Maryland sire Horatius was the first sprinter to top $2 million in earnings, the first Maryland-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race, a four-time Maryland-bred champion, including Horse of the Year twice (1989,1990), and is one of only seven horses to win three Maryland Million races. She won 24 races, 22 in stakes, from 31 lifetime starts.

*Around the track:

Jockey Jevian Toledo rode three winners on Friday’s card. Synergism ($5) began Toledo’s hot run in the second race for trainer Brittany Russell. Thirty-two minutes later, he piloted Skillian ($2.40) to a popular score for trainer Lacey Gaudet. Toledo then captured the feature in a thrilling blanket finish aboard S S Sinatra ($4.80) for trainer Kerry Hohlbein…Apprentice rider Yan Rodriguez booted home two winners on Saturday. Over My Cents ($5) tracked and pounced to win the opener for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, and She’s a Gem ($15.60) was aggressively handled in the fourth for Claudio Gonzalez…Teenage apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood reached the winner’s circle twice. Very Volatile ($6.80) graduated in the third race for Gary Capuano, and 9-year-old Armando R ($5.60) rallied from off the pace to take the fifth for Damon Dilodovico…Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race program…The first post time is 12 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers with a low 12% takeout rate…This Sunday, enjoy “Football at the Park,” where the gridiron meets the racetrack. Join us at Laurel Park, and watch College and NFL Football on our massive screens in our dedicated Sports Bar while enjoying the thrill of live horse racing. There is a 10% discount on all appetizers as well as drink specials. Kickoff and first post time are at 12 p.m. ET for "Football at the Park”…The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. Get picks, analysis, trip notes, trainer stats, horses to watch, track bias information, and much more from The Maryland Jockey Club team of handicappers. Sunday’s Guide is online: click here to view…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…Never miss a second of the action with the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to catch full pan and head-on replays.