G2 $300K Barbara Fritchie Hcp
Feb 22, 2014 13:26:57 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Feb 22, 2014 13:26:57 GMT -5
Because of the PARX ban and the re-scheduling, the field has changed quite a bit. I'm not leaving out the 7 because my BFF loves this trainer-owner combo! I like betting Laurel because I do pretty well there. One thing I've noticed (and this may be true everywhere) big drops in odds from the M/L have to be included.
Seven Sprinters Set For Saturday's Rescheduled Barbara Fritchie Handicap
Laurel Press Release
LAUREL, MD. 02-19-14---The field for Saturday’s $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) at Laurel Park is significantly different than the one originally scheduled to race last Saturday. Four of filly and mare sprinters will not be competing this weekend, while another has been added into the mix.
Parx Racing-based Winning Image and Villette are not permitted to leave the Philadelphia track due to a quarantine after an equine herpes outbreak. More Than a Cruise will be pointed to the Conniver Stakes at Laurel on March 22, a race where she finished second a year ago. Trainer Charlie Williams decided against running longshot Sunlit City.
The seven remaining runners all have a legitimate shot to win the 60th running of the storied Fritchie.
The new edition to the field is Merry Meadow (6-1). The speedy daughter of Henny Hughes has finished in the money in 17 of her 18 career starts, including an allowance victory at Aqueduct earlier this month. Forest Boyce will ride for trainer Mark Hennig.
“The quarantine at Parx made me look at the race since it isn’t as tough as it was a week ago,” Hennig said. “It took her awhile to break her maiden (11th career race) but she always ran hard. She turned the corner mentally last summer when she won that first race. She has also filled out and has changed a lot physically since last year at this time. She is a blue-collar kind of filly. She gives 100 percent every time, which is kind of unique.”
Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Keith Feustle has tabbed La Verdad as the 9-5 morning line favorite.
After finishing off the board in her debut, La Verdad has reeled off five straight front-running victories, four against optional claiming company at the New York tracks. Jose Ortiz has been aboard the Yes It’s True filly in all her starts for trainer Linda Rice.
“We are ready to try stakes company and the timing is right,” Rice said. “She is a big filly with a lot of natural speed. We were hoping to rate her off the pace last time but it didn’t work out. We’ll see how she does with the added distance.”
An early resume in claiming races made Centrique (2-1) eligible for the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper at Gulfsteam Park, a race she won as the odds-on favorite. She followed that effort with a second win at Gulfstream, this time over allowance company. The Marty Wolfson mare has finished in the money in 20-of-30 lifetime starts. Victor Carrasco has the riding assignment.
Trainer Michael Hushion has won two of the previous six Barbara Fritchie Handicaps, winning with Golden Dawn (2008) and Harissa (2011). The Belmont Park-based conditioner is sending last year’s runner-up My Wandy’s Girl (3-1) in search of another Grade 2 score. The daughter of Flower Alley, a Puerto Rican import, won her North American debut at Aqueduct in the 2012 Pentelis Stakes then she finished in the money in three graded races: Gazelle (G1), Barbara Fritchie (G2) and Ruffian (G2). After a six-month absence, she returned in December to post a fifth place finish in the Garland of Roses. Rajiv Maragh will ride for the first time.
“I still don’t understand why she didn’t run better in her first start back. She trained really well for the return. It was just a disappointing race,” Hushion said. “We took her to Florida and pointed hard for this race. She is a nice, sound filly. If she can get back to the form she showed us when we got her, we could have a lot of fun.”
Seven Sprinters Set For Saturday's Rescheduled Barbara Fritchie Handicap
Laurel Press Release
LAUREL, MD. 02-19-14---The field for Saturday’s $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) at Laurel Park is significantly different than the one originally scheduled to race last Saturday. Four of filly and mare sprinters will not be competing this weekend, while another has been added into the mix.
Parx Racing-based Winning Image and Villette are not permitted to leave the Philadelphia track due to a quarantine after an equine herpes outbreak. More Than a Cruise will be pointed to the Conniver Stakes at Laurel on March 22, a race where she finished second a year ago. Trainer Charlie Williams decided against running longshot Sunlit City.
The seven remaining runners all have a legitimate shot to win the 60th running of the storied Fritchie.
The new edition to the field is Merry Meadow (6-1). The speedy daughter of Henny Hughes has finished in the money in 17 of her 18 career starts, including an allowance victory at Aqueduct earlier this month. Forest Boyce will ride for trainer Mark Hennig.
“The quarantine at Parx made me look at the race since it isn’t as tough as it was a week ago,” Hennig said. “It took her awhile to break her maiden (11th career race) but she always ran hard. She turned the corner mentally last summer when she won that first race. She has also filled out and has changed a lot physically since last year at this time. She is a blue-collar kind of filly. She gives 100 percent every time, which is kind of unique.”
Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Keith Feustle has tabbed La Verdad as the 9-5 morning line favorite.
After finishing off the board in her debut, La Verdad has reeled off five straight front-running victories, four against optional claiming company at the New York tracks. Jose Ortiz has been aboard the Yes It’s True filly in all her starts for trainer Linda Rice.
“We are ready to try stakes company and the timing is right,” Rice said. “She is a big filly with a lot of natural speed. We were hoping to rate her off the pace last time but it didn’t work out. We’ll see how she does with the added distance.”
An early resume in claiming races made Centrique (2-1) eligible for the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper at Gulfsteam Park, a race she won as the odds-on favorite. She followed that effort with a second win at Gulfstream, this time over allowance company. The Marty Wolfson mare has finished in the money in 20-of-30 lifetime starts. Victor Carrasco has the riding assignment.
Trainer Michael Hushion has won two of the previous six Barbara Fritchie Handicaps, winning with Golden Dawn (2008) and Harissa (2011). The Belmont Park-based conditioner is sending last year’s runner-up My Wandy’s Girl (3-1) in search of another Grade 2 score. The daughter of Flower Alley, a Puerto Rican import, won her North American debut at Aqueduct in the 2012 Pentelis Stakes then she finished in the money in three graded races: Gazelle (G1), Barbara Fritchie (G2) and Ruffian (G2). After a six-month absence, she returned in December to post a fifth place finish in the Garland of Roses. Rajiv Maragh will ride for the first time.
“I still don’t understand why she didn’t run better in her first start back. She trained really well for the return. It was just a disappointing race,” Hushion said. “We took her to Florida and pointed hard for this race. She is a nice, sound filly. If she can get back to the form she showed us when we got her, we could have a lot of fun.”