Laurel roundup: Eastern Bay, 9, makes grade in General George

Built Wright Stables’ 9-year-old Eastern Bay took the lead at the top of the stretch and powered home by 1 1/2 lengths to earn his first graded-stakes victory and cap an emotional day in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 General George at Laurel Park.

The 47th running of the General George for 4-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs was the last of six stakes worth $900,000 in purses on a program co-headlined by the 71st renewal of the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3) for fillies and mares 4 and up.

Eastern Bay ($17.40), placed in three prior graded stakes, won for the 19th time in his 53rd start to reach the $1 million mark in career earnings. He also gave jockey William Humphrey his first career stakes victory.

It was also a fitting tribute to late jockey Avery Whisman, who rode him to three victories in 2019-20 and was honored with a race named in his honor and coordinated national moment of silence earlier in the day.

Owner-trainer Norman “Lynn” Cash presented Eastern Bay’s saddlecloth from the General George to the Whisman family, who tearfully joined the connections in the winner’s circle.

“It just seemed like this is the way the day should end. For Avery,” Cash said. “Eastern Bay has never been up like that before. He wasn’t that far off. Right then you knew he had to win, because he was only a length and a half off. Maybe he had a little help getting pushed down the lane by the powers that be. What a special day.”

Pirate Rick, one of three Cash horses in the race, broke running and went straight to the lead under jockey Jose Gomez. A winner of four straight sprints before finishing fourth last out in the Toboggan (G3) on Jan. 28 at Aqueduct, Pirate Rick went the first quarter-mile in 23.02 seconds under mild pressure from John the Bear, who came into the race off back-to-back victories at Laurel.

Eastern Bay raced in the clear in third outside of John the Bear before moving up to challenge Pirate Rick on the turn after a half in 45.43 seconds. Humphrey and Eastern Bay rolled past the leader in midstretch, having plenty left to hold off a late run from Yodel E.A. Who, who edged multiple stakes winner Beren by three-quarters of a length for second.

“Pirate got an easy lead like we almost knew he would. I had questions about the distance (for him), but what a great duo these two are. You’ve got him on the pace and Eastern Bay coming around,” Cash said. “He’s such a strong horse, and he’s a 9-year-old. He’s an old guy.”

Factor It In, the 6-5 favorite off back-to-back sprint stakes wins at Laurel was a length back of Beren in fourth. Sir Alfred James, the last of the Cash trio, Pirate Rick, John the Bear and Momos completed the order of finish.

It was the eighth time since last April that Humphrey has gotten a leg up on Eastern Bay, five of those races resulting in wins. Second by a nose in the 2020 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) at Laurel, Eastern Bay was making his first start since being runner-up in both the Vosburgh (G2) and Bold Ruler (G3) in October at Aqueduct, when he was ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

“To be honest with you I’m feeling very much purely for Avery," Humphrey said. "Obviously, this was his favorite horse and his most winning horse and I’m in exactly the same position,” he added. “He means the world to me and it’s like a dream come true and the stars all aligned.”

Swayin to and Fro captures Barbara Fritchie

Swayin to and Fro sat off long shot pacesetter Liscolvin for a half-mile before taking the lead, turned back Grade 1-placed shipper Pass the Champagne and held off late-running Fille d’Esprit to become a graded-stakes winner in Saturday’s Grade 3 $250,000 Barbara Fritchie.

Swayin to and Fro ($14.40) completed the distance in 1:23.75 over a fast main track to provide trainer Mario Serey Jr. and jockey Richard Monterrey with their first graded-stakes victories. Serey claimed the 4-year-old South Carolina bred for $16,000 last May at Pimlico and won eight of 13 subsequent starts, including four stakes.

“I told everybody when I claimed this filly and I saw the potential and I saw the talent, every race she proved it. I’m so proud of her. This is a great, great filly,” Serey said. “When I claimed her, I talked to the owner and (said), ‘This is a stakes winner.’ The class and the talent of the horse, they tell you right away.”

The speedy Swayin to and Fro was content to let 21-1 shot Liscolvin take the early lead, going the opening quarter-mile in 22.44 seconds. Monterrey, aboard for the first time, sat chilly in second until taking over the top spot following a half in 45.20 seconds tracked by Pass the Champagne, making just her seventh start and second in 12 months.

Swayin to and Fro extended her lead after going six furlongs in 1:10.47 having put away Pass the Champagne and fellow graded-stakes placed shipper Union Lake. Multiple stakes winner Fille d’Esprit, who snapped Swayin to and Fro’s two-stakes win streak in the Jan. 21 What a Summer, was beginning to roll on the far outside and make a strong late bid but came up a half-length short.

Moody Woman finished third, followed by Pass the Champagne, Prodigy Doll, Quiet Imagination, Union Lake and Liscolvin.

Monterrey, who turns 39 next month, is a native of Venezuela who won his first race in the U.S. in 2003 at Gulfstream Park. A Mid-Atlantic regular who did not ride between 2017 and 2020, he owns 775 career victories.

“I have a lot of emotions and feelings going on in my heart and mind. So much joy and gratitude for the opportunity Mario and the owners gave me to ride this amazing filly. From the get-go, she wanted to go. To win my first graded-stakes with her and Mario, I am blessed,” Monterrey said.

“Five years ago I was watching this race from home and I told my wife, ‘I’m going to be riding that race one day,’” he added. “Turns out I am the winner. I lost my passion when you struggle. But that time I was away showed me so much gratitude for the things I love, and that’s riding horses. I appreciate every horse I ride.”

Nimitz Class stays on roll in John B. Campbell

Thomas Coulter’s Nimitz Class won his second consecutive stakes race Saturday when he put away Ain’t Da Beer Cold entering the stretch and drove away to a 4 ½-length victory in the $100,000 John B. Campbell.

Claimed for $40,000 in October, Nimitz Class ($5.60) has now won three of his last four starts for trainer Bruce Kravets. A 4-year-old colt by Munnings ridden by Jevian Toledo, Nimitz Class covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.29.

Nimitz Class broke on top out of the gate and matched strides with Ain’t Da Beer Cold around the first turn and down the backstretch past fractions of :24.10, :47.82 and 1:11.84. But the colt started to get away from his challenger entering the stretch and had plenty left to hold off Ournationonparade, who got up for the place.

Nimitz Class has now won seven of 13 starts for nearly $300,000.

Hybrid Eclipse opens season with Nellie Morse win

The Elkstone Group’s Hybrid Eclipse kicked off her 5-year-old campaign in style Saturday by driving away from Award Wanted and Pistol Liz Ablazen to win the $100,000 Nellie Morse.

A daughter of Paynter ridden by Jevian Toledo and trained by Brittany Russell, Hybrid Eclipse ($4.60) covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.96 and was a 4 ½ length winner over Award Wanted. Pistol Liz Ablazen was third.

A distant third in the Beldame (G2) at Aqueduct last fall and winner of the Thirty Eight Go Go at Laurel in November, Hybrid Eclipse was rated off the pacesetters Runaway Monet and Pistol Liz Ablazen down the backstretch past fractions of :23.92 and :48.23. Fifth just two lengths away from the leaders entering the far turn, Toledo guided Hybrid Eclipse to the outside and moved four wide around the turn before taking the lead inside the final eighth.

Hybrid Eclipse has now won seven of 19 starts, including Caesar’s Wish last summer at Laurel. It was the third straight win on the card for Toledo and second in a stakes following Nimitz Class in the $100,000 John B. Campbell.

Coffeewithchris takes down Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds

Coffeewithchris, given a perfect trip from jockey Jaime Rodriguez, got the jump on favored Prince of Jericho and held off his rival in deep stretch to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood by 1 1/4 lengths at Laurel Park.

Coffeewithchris ($9.40), sent off as the 7-2 second choice in a field of seven, completed the distance in 1:37.54 over a fast main track for his second stakes win in three races following a 2 1/2-length triumph over Prince of Jericho in the Dec. 26 Heft. Coffeewithchris ran second to Prince of Jericho in the Jan. 21 Spectacular Bid.

The Miracle Wood is the second of Laurel’s series of stakes for 3-year-olds leading up to the 148th Preakness (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course. It is followed by the $100,000 Private Terms March 18 and $125,000 Federico Tesio April 15, the latter a ‘Win and In’ qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the Preakness.

“I didn’t think he’d go a mile. I had to take the chance. There was nowhere else to run him unless I wanted to ship him,” Salzman said. “He ran a big race.”

Feeling Woozy, exiting a one-mile optional claiming allowance victory Jan. 29 at Laurel, broke sharply from the rail and led through a quarter-mile in 23.79 seconds and a half in 46.79, while Rodriguez pressed in second. Multiple stakes-placed Ricco and Triple Crown-nominated Seven’s Eleven and B West comprised the second flight with Price of Jericho in the clear outside.

Coffeewithchris pounced on Feeling Woozy approaching the stretch and took over the top spot once straightened for home as Rodriguez set down for a drive to the second finish line. Jockey Carol Cedeno swung Prince of Jericho widest of all off the turn and made a determined run at the leader but could not get by.

“He’s a tough horse to ride. If it was a mile to the first wire, I wouldn’t have been as concerned as I was a mile to the second wire. I told Jaime that in the paddock, and he saved a little bit and got him to the second wire,” Salzman said. “It worked out. I really didn’t think (Feeling Woozy) would be in front of me but we had talked about taking a little hold of him and just laying a little off the pace to try to get him to get the mile.”

Feeling Woozy was 2 1/2 lengths behind Prince of Jericho in third, with another 3 1/4 lengths back to B West in fourth, followed by B West, We Don’t Need Roads and Seven’s Eleven. Salzman, who trains Coffeewithchris, also won the Miracle Wood last year with Local Motive.

“I told John I’m just going to let him break, get comfortable, and I’m going to ask him once I get to the quarter pole, I’m going to ask him if I got something left,” Rodriguez said. “Today, he surprised me because when I asked him he responded right away. He never gave up.”

Bred in Maryland by Thomas Rooney, Salzman purchased Coffeewithchris for $2,000 as a yearling in October 2021. The Ride On Curlin gelding graduated in his second start last May, a maiden claimer at historic Pimlico Race Course where he was promoted to first following a troubled trip. He became a stakes winner in the Heft, and was clearly second best in the Spectacular Bid 22 days later.

The Miracle Wood was Coffeewithchris’ first race beyond a sprint. The Private Terms, at about 1 1/16 miles, is contested around two turns.

“Sometimes that’s easier for a speed horse, at least the first time. It’s not out of the question, but I want to see how this works out,” Salzman said. “I’ll talk to Jaime a little more and I’ll watch the replay a few more times. He got the mile. I want to see how he comes out of this. Knock on wood he’s been very sound, no issues. I’ll have to talk and think about it a little bit whether I want to go the next sixteenth or not.”

Stonewall Star shines bright in Wide Country victory

Barry Schwartz’s homebred Stonewall Star, already a two-time stakes winner over New York-breds, turned in a career-best performance in her third try against open company with a front-running 11-length triumph in the $100,000 Wide Country.

Ridden by Angel Cruz for trainer Horacio DePaz, Stonewall Star ($5.60) covered seven furlongs in 1:24.33 over a fast main track for her fourth win from seven career starts and first outside of New York.

Cruz, aboard for the first time, was able to guide Stonewall Star to the front from outermost Post 6 and sailed through splits of 23.07 and 46.42 seconds chased by Jan. 21 Xtra Heat winner L Street Lady on the inside along with multiple stakes-placed Gormley’s Gabriela and Maryland Million Lassie winner Chickieness.

L Street Lady began to drop back midway around the far turn as Chickieness and Gormley’s Gabriela tried to make up ground, but Stonewall Star had plenty left to gain separation from her rivals and keep going, opening up impressively through the lane.

Chickieness was second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Gormley’s Gabriela. We’ll See, 2022 Golden Gate Debtante winner Sally’s Sassy and L Street Lady completed the order of finish.

Stonewall Star won the six-furlong Key Cents last fall and came out of a 6 ¼-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Franklin Square Jan. 22, both at Aqueduct. She tried seven furlongs once before in her only prior trip to Laurel, where she led into the stretch before tiring to third behind then-undefeated Malibu Moonshine in the Dec. 30 Gin Talking.

“I thought they would press her a little bit more,” DePaz said. “That was my concern because the last time with the seven-eighths she was on the lead and took everybody on and just came up short that last sixteenth. But today, she was right.”

The Wide Country is the next step in Laurel’s 3-year-old filly stakes series that began with the Xtra Heat and continues with the $100,000 Beyond the Wire going one mile March 18 and $125,000 Weber City Miss April 15, a 1 1/16-mile ‘Win and In’ qualifier for the 99th Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19 at Pimlico.

“The question is how far she would go, and she handled the seven (furlongs) perfectly fine. We’ll continue to let her tell us,” DePaz said. “We’ll go back to New York and maybe back to Maryland. She’s got options, that’s for sure.”