Laurelin Heads Turf Features at Big A This Weekend

[Wandering Eyes]

Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) has proven almost unbeatable through most of her career, that is until she ran into Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) last time out in the Oct. 11 GII Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland and had to settle for second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Despite the disappointment of losing her unbeaten tag in her latest start, Laurelin lost none of her luster since the filly that beat her that day, Lush Lips, realized a staggering $3.7 million at the recently concluded Keeneland November Sale.

Campaigned by Newstead Stables, the Graham Motion trainee will look to get back on top in Saturday's 11-furlong GIII Jockey Club Oaks at Aqueduct.

“I thought she ran great,” said Motion. “The winner ran a big race, and I thought we ran our race–she ran very well. It's always tough when you're undefeated but I thought she ran super.”

Laurelin began her career with a trio of wins at Aqueduct, including victories in last season's Tepin Stakes in addition to a score in her 2025 bow in the Memories of Silver Stakes in April.

Back on top in the Pennsylvania Oaks in June, the chestnut added a win in the 1 3/16-mile GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational in August.

The Oaks will represent he first time that Laurelin will attempt to run past 10 furlongs.

“I think that's what she wants to do,” said Motion of the added distance. “I wouldn't be surprised if that's what she likes, she's kind of bred to do that.”

Laurelin has worked back twice over the Fair Hill synthetic, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:01.80 Saturday.

“She's very straightforward in the morning. I don't think she needs to do as much now as she did early on in the year, she's very fit,” Motion said.

George Messina and Michael Lee's Fionn (Twirling Candy) won the first leg of NYRA's turf series for sophomore fillies with a nose score over Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational in July. Since then, she won the Sept. 10 GIII Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs before finishing fourth as the favorite in the QEII.

Accompanied by Flavien Prat this weekend, she will get blinkers taken off for her career longest start.

Sunday's Big A card will feature the one-mile GIII Pebbles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Among the contenders, Fast Market (Volatile) comes into the affair off a maiden-breaking score over course and trip in September followed by a close-up second last time out in the GII Sands Point Stakes on Oct. 18.

“That was a fantastic effort,” said trainer John Terranova. “We were really proud of her. She has finally figured out what she wants to do and what types of races. In terms of distance, she'll run a mile to a mile and an eighth, but overall, she has just really matured and is moving forward for us.”

 

More Graded Action at Churchill Downs, Woodbine

Saturday's GIII Chilukki Stakes features the return of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ragtime (Union Rags), winner of the seven-furlong GIII Dogwood in Louisville on Sept. 20 before finishing a close-up third in the GII Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 18.

Trained by Bill Mott, the Godolphin homebred finished a neck back of Kilwin (Twirling Candy) in the GI Test Stakes last summer. Ragtime will get blinkers on for the one-mile test.

“She came back to us about a month ago from our New York string and has been training very well in the morning,” Mott's assistant Kenny McCarthy said. “She started her career at Saratoga with blinkers and we'll put them back on Saturday to help her stay a little more involved early.”

On Saturday's undercard, Churchill Downs plays host to the 27th Claiming Crown, which features eight races that showcases several of North America's top blue-collar horses.

Shifting north of the border, Woodbine hosts the GII bet365 Kennedy Road Stakes on Saturday. Former Breeders' Cup winner Nobals (Noble Mission {GB})) will attempt to defend his title in the 6-furlong test over the synthetic surface.

“He can run on turf and synthetic, which is nice to have in a horse,” said trainer Larry Riveli.

Victorious in the 2023 renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, the gelding took last year's Kennedy Road over former Canadian sprint champion Patches O'Houlihan. This season, the 6-year-old has accounted for a single win–a 5 1/2-furlong turf optional claimer at Churchill in May–while hitting the board in four other starts, including a runner-up finish last time out in the 5-furlong GII Nearctic Stakes over the Woodbine turf course on Oct. 4.

“It was another big effort from him,” said Rivelli, who recently reached the 2,000-win plateau. “He's just an incredible horse, who shows up every time and gives it every single thing he's got.”

This season alone, Nobals has run at seven different racetracks, both on the turf and synthetic surfaces.

“He has never been the type the sweat the small stuff,” Rivelli added. “He's been to so many racetracks and he handles everything like a pro.”

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