It's the Journey makes it three wins in a row

R. Larry Johnson’s Maryland homebred It’s the Journey made it three wins in a row off an ideal trip under jockey Alex Cintron in Sunday’s featured 10th race at Laurel Park.

 

Third in the 2015 Maryland Juvenile Futurity in his second lifetime start, It’s the Journey ($3.60) went off as the 4-5 favorite in the $45,000 second-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up, running six furlongs in 1:09.53 over a fast main track.

 

The 4-year-old Mineshaft gelding, trained by Mike Trombetta, settled in the middle of a tightly bunched six-horse field as Stolen Love led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.13 seconds. American Progress pressed the pace to his outside while jockey Alex Cintron kept It’s the Journey poised to strike while in the clear three wide.

 

It’s the Journey took over the top spot after going a half in 46.16 and maintained his advantage over Negrito after straightening for home to win by 2 ½ lengths. Negrito was 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Cozze Cat in third.

 

“That horse, it’s really nice to ride him,” Cintron said. “We were pretty forward and he just got a nice trip. It looked like we were much the best. I had to get after him to make sure he didn’t give up and he ran away from the horses pretty easy; 1:09 is pretty quick for this track and he did it easy.”

           

In Sunday’s co-feature, Equine Prep Management’s 3-year-old filly Saida extended her win streak to three races with a front-running 5 ¼-length triumph in a $42,000 entry-level allowance for fillies and mares 3 and older.

 

Ridden by Sheldon Russell for trainer Cal Lynch, Saida ($12) completed one mile in 1:37.24 to win for the first time on dirt after overnight rain moved the race to the main track. It was her fourth win in five starts, all over older horses, the previous three on turf.

 

Lynch moved Saida to the turf for her seventh career start, a maiden claiming event going a mile April 9 at Laurel, romping by eight lengths on the lead. She set fractions of 23.95 and 47.12 seconds Sunday, chased by Ladies’ Privilege, and opened up on her rival down the stretch.

 

“She’s just got her confidence now, this filly, her last few races. [Owner] John [O’Hara] wanted me to put her in for a tag earlier on and get her confidence, she got a win in her and now she’s rattled off three in a row,” Lynch said. “We’re very, very pleased with her and we’re delighted she showed up on the dirt like she did. She’s doing everything right and just getting better.”

 

 

Laurel opens the final weekend of its 33-day summer meet with an 11-race program when live racing resumes Friday. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.

 

A total of 66 horses was entered for six races over Laurel’s world-class turf course, an average of 11 per race, on the All Along and Dahlia layouts.

 

There will be a jackpot carryover of $3,809.01 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 Friday beginning in Race 6. Multiple tickets were sold with all six winners Sunday, each worth $140.92.

 

Notes: Jockey Victor Carrasco added three wins to his meet-leading total aboard My Golden Rose ($4.60) in the second race, Cent Comm ($4.20) in the third and Fergie’s Lady ($4.80) in the seventh. Sheldon Russell and trainer Cal Lynch teamed up to win the ninth with Saida ($12) and 11th with Sunset Arch ($6.60).