By Will Humphrey
Welcome to MD Eyecatchers, where each week the spotlight is put upon several runners from Maryland who’ll deserve your attention – and your wager – when they hit the track again soon.
Friday, Race 4: ANLON (2nd)
On paper, ANLON faced a tough task in Laurel’s fourth race on Friday, a 5½-furlong optional claiming allowance (OC 62k/N1X) on dirt. Making his first start against winners after a 265-day layoff, the once raced son of MO TOWN was among the slowest on figures and lacked the experience of his rivals. Yet those concerns didn’t stop bettors driving his 10/1 ML odds down to 3/1 by post time, nor did they stop him from running a winning race in defeat. Having broken sharp from the two hole, he rushed froward to engage in an early speed duel that lasted to the top of the stretch. He then came under a strong ride and valiantly put away his sparring partner, briefly looking a winner, only to be nabbed on the wire by the ultra consistent Sanchez Salomon trainee, TINY LAKE, after jockey Jean Briceno dropped his crop around the sixteenth pole. HERE’S THE REPLAY.
Whether the rider’s butter fingers cost ANLON the victory is up for debate; what isn’t up for debate, however, is that he ran a superb race in defeat and visually, more than passed the eye test. ANLON didn’t quite hold on for the win here, but this was a hugely promising return to action, especially as trainer Robbie Bailes typically allows his horses to step forward for a comeback run. With him still only now having had just two career starts, that improvement could be twofold next out, and if he breaks on top again, he could be very tough to run down.
Saturday, Race 6: DAT’S TAP (2nd)
An eight-race maiden isn’t typically a horse bettors eagerly back. However, DAT’S TAP ran a vastly improved race on Saturday, suggesting he’s close to breaking his maiden. In his three prior starts, the 3-year-old son of Tapit trailed by a combined 79 1/4 lengths, with a top Beyer Speed Figure of 19. But he was a transformed performer going 5 1/2-furlongs over the Laurel lawn this weekend. Breaking smoothly under J.G. Torrealba, DAT’S TAP traveled well in the pocket to the stretch, then gamely chased the 6/5 favorite ENDURING GOLD to the wire, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths. He pulled over three lengths clear of the third-place finisher and made a strong visual impression on the good listed turf course. Watch the replay HERE.
Some bettors may view this 72 Beyer effort as a fluke given his overall record. However, as this was both his first start sprinting on turf and his first start using lasix, it’s likely his connections have simply found the key to him. And, as this race marked his first start for 125-days, there’s a strong chance he’ll step forward for this effort next time too. Against a similar level of competition, that could make him tough to beat.
Saturday, Race 9: PLAY HARDER (2nd)
Later on the Saturday program, last year’s Star De Nebraska S. winner, PLAY HARDER, made a more than satisfactory debut for the Annette Eubanks barn as he chased home the stakes-bound HAILEYSFIRSTNOTION in the ninth. The 6-year-old son of OUTWORK was not only making his first start for the Eubanks Team, but he was also making him first start as a gelding and his first start off a lengthy 272-day layoff, for which, he only had three reported workouts.
He took a significant bump at the start but recovered well, then advanced between horses, made a bold four-wide move on the turn and strongly confronted the gate-to-wire winner at the top of the stretch, before finishing willingly to hold second. His lack of match fitness looked to take its toll on him late but regardless, he was game in defeat and still managed to hold off a talented group of high-quality allowance runners. HERE’S THE REPLAY. Given his work pattern, he seems almost certain to strip fitter for this run and improve upon this 82-Beyer earning effort next out, just like he did when working his way back from a layoff last year. Now a gelding, his best days may yet be to come, and he could be a profitable horse to follow going forward.
Sunday, Race 5: CLASSIC JOKE (2nd)
Over the last couple of years, CLASSIC JOKE has established himself as a very capable dirt sprinter in the Mid-Atlantic region, recently finishing just 3 1/4-lengths behind S S SINATRA. So, it was surprising when trainer Ricky Sillaman entered him for a $40,000 claiming race on Sunday, switching from dirt sprints to a one-mile turf route. Sillaman clearly thought that the surface switch and stretch out in distance would see I’m to good effect, and he was spot on. The son of PRACTICAL JOKE ran a tremendous race; in fact, he was unfortunate no to have found the winners’ circle. Having worked across from the wide outside gate, he adopted a perfect inside stalking position behind the speed and looked loaded rounding the far turn. However, he then found himself boxed in along the fence rounding into the lane and didn’t find clear sailing until it was too late. Having switched out into the clear four-wide when straightened for the drive, he made a valiant bid for glory but the eventual winner, MISSIONAIRE, had already gotten the jump on him, and he came up a neck short. HERE’S THE REPLAY.
Regardless of the tough beat, this was a huge effort from CLASSIC JOKE who seemed very comfortable on the turf and, unlike a lot of sprinters stretching out, settled beautifully behind the speed. He looked a natural turf router. He was claimed out of the race by Anthony Farrior, so it will be interesting to see in which direction he’s pointed next, though off this performance, it would be a surprise if connections didn’t persevere with the turf route game. Assuming they do, he should be finding the winners’ circle very soon, potentially at a decent level.
