Country
Life Farm’s Moon Philly is the morning line favorite to win Saturday’s
feature at Laurel Park, the $125,000 Nellie Morse Stakes for fillies and
mares. The 1-1/16th mile test drew 12 runners. Ten can face the starter.
Trained
by Mike Trombetta, Moon Philly (9-5) drew the rail. The Malibu Moon
filly had a troubled trip in the Cat Cay Stakes at Aqueduct on January
6, her most recent start. After stumbling at the gate under Jeremy Rose,
Moon Philly had to jump a fallen horse in the stretch but still managed
to take second. Moon Philly was a model of consistency last year with
eight first or second place finishes in 11 starts. Rose keeps the mount
on Saturday.
“If
you really look at her form, the only time she hasn’t run her best
races is when I was sprinting her in an attempt to get some stakes
placings. When we went back to running long again, she ran well,” said
Trombetta, who won stakes races at Laurel Saturday and Monday. “She had a
bit of an excuse last time. I don’t know if she would have won it
though Jeremy thought she was going to.”
Withgreatpleasure
(3-1) has finished second in her past three starts, the Cornucopia
Stakes at Parx Racing and the Willa On The Move and Thirty Eight Go Go
Stakes at Laurel. David Nunn conditions the daughter of Hold That Tiger,
who is also entered in Saturday’s Affectionately Stakes at Aqueduct.
Ciguaraya
(5-1) beat elders in the Crowned Stakes at Delaware two starts back.
The daughter of Latent Heat has won three-of-five since Juan Vazquez
took over training in August. Angel Castillo has been her rider since.
Access
to Charlie (8-1) is no stranger to stakes company, with a victory in
the Twixt Stakes in 2011 and fourth place finishes in her past four
stakes efforts. Larry Murray trains the Indian Charlie mare. Julian
Pimentel is her rider.
Howard
Wolfendale will start Carrietta (8-1), who has won three-of-six against
optional claiming company since September. The Stephen Got Even mare
has hit the board in 21-of-31 lifetime starts.
Prize
Winner, Touch the Birds and Tanivan are all listed at 12-1 on the
morning line. All three come into the Nellie Morse off victories.
Silver Heart (20-1) and Dial Direct (30-1) round out the field.
Malibu Murmur and Blessed Soul are the also-eligibles.