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Kenny Had a Notion regained his winning ways in the Spectacular Bid
Kenny Had a Notion and Maythehorsebwithu, separated by a neck following a stretch-long duel in the Spectacular Bid last month, will hook up again as the primary challengers in Saturday s $100,000 Miracle Wood at Laurel Park in Maryland.
The 26th running of the one-mile Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds and the 28th renewal of the $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies are among six stakes, two graded, worth $900,000 on the nine-race Winter Sprintfest program.
Serving as co-headliners are the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) for fillies and mares 4 and up and the $250,000 General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up, both sprinting seven furlongs. Older horses will also go about 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 John B. Campbell and $100,000 Nellie Morse for females.
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The filly Dontletsweetfoolya and her goat, Doris
There s a scene in the 2003 motion picture Seabiscuit where trainer Tom Smith cradles a goat in his arms as he walks along the road on owner Charles Howard s California ranch leading to the stable where the movie s cantankerous main character has been keeping his connections on their toes.
“Goat racing?” Howard, played by actor Jeff Bridges, asks.
“Oh, no. Just trying to calm him down a little,” fellow Academy Award winner Chris Cooper, playing Smith, answers. “The smart ones, they hate being alone all the time. Sometimes, another animal just soothes them a bit.”
Hello Beautiful, Dontletsweetfoolya Prep For Barbara Fritchie Matchup Sponsored by:
Hello Beautiful with jockey Sheldon Russell and trainer Brittany Russell (far left)
Multiple stakes winners Hello Beautiful and Dontletsweetfoolya set the stage for their first head-to-head matchup in the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) Feb. 13 with sharp half-mile works over Laurel Park s main track Saturday.
The 69th running of the Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and older and the 45th renewal of the $250,000 General s Stake (G3) for 4-year-olds and up, formerly the General George, highlight a Winter Sprintfest program offering six stakes worth $900,000 in purses.
Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables Hello Beautiful was timed in 47.60 seconds, second-fastest of 68 horses at the distance. Jockey Sheldon Russell was aboard for his wife, trainer Brittany Russell.
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The Stronach 5, which continues to offer a strong return on investment and an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will feature races Friday from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.
The action begins at 3:55 ET with Laurel s eighth race, a very competitive optional allowance claiming event at a mile for 3-year-old fillies.
The favorite is likely to be Team Gaudet s Fraudulent Charge, a daughter of Will Take Charge who stepped up off a debut victory in November to finish second by a nose in the $100,000 Gin Talking Stakes behind multiple stakes winner Street Lute. Malibu Beauty cuts back a bit in distance for trainer Gary Capuano after setting the pace and finishing fourth Dec. 26 in the $100,000 Anne Arundel. The 11-horse field also includes Chloe Rose, a daughter of Twirling Candy from the stable of Brittany Russell, who won in her second start by 2 ¼ lengths at a mile.
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