Chuck
Russo’s Il Villano had it all his own way in the six-furlong, $100,000
Dave’s Friend Stakes, the co-feature this afternoon at Laurel Park.
Sent
out to spar for the lead under Kendrick Carmouche for trainer Susan
Crowell, the 3-year-old quickly emerged with the lead and went on to
beat five of his elders by three lengths in 1:11.20 over the sloppy
going. Immortal Eyes nipped Wolfcamp to finish second.
“He seemed to like the slop,” Carmouche said. “He broke well and wanted to go.”
In
his only other start at Laurel, Il Villano missed winning the Frank J.
DeFrancis Memorial Dash on Oct. 27 by a nose to multiple stakes winner
Action Andy. Earlier this year, he captured the Chick Lang Stakes at
Pimlico Race Course.
“He
is amazing,” Crowell said. “I thought we would be sitting off the pace
like we did in the De Francis but he had other plans. Speed had not been
holding today but it worked out well for us.”
Crowell indicated she could return to Laurel for the $200,000 General George Handicap (G3) on Feb. 18, 2013.
Il
Villano paid $6.40 as the second betting choice. The son of Pollard’s
Vision improves to 5-of-13 lifetime, with 11 in the money finishes, for
earnings of $509,620.