Multiple
stakes winner Walkwithapurpose has been installed as the even-money
favorite to win Saturday’s feature at Laurel Park, the one
mile, $150,000 Caesar’s Wish Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Walkwithapurpose
has won four consecutive races, including the Maryland Juvenile Filly
Championship and the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel. Owned by Sagamore
Farm, the daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) is trained by Ignacio Correas.
Jeremy Rose has been her pilot during the winning streak.
“She
is exactly where we want her to be at this point,” Correas said. “We
feel she is really talented and has continued to step up every time she
runs. She has done things so easy and has already won at the distance.
We are looking forward to the next step in her career and hopefully she
delivers Saturday.”
Correas
indicated he would likely use the Twixt Stakes on April 6 at Pimlico
Race Course for Maryland-breds as Walkwithapurpose’s prep race for the
$500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on May 17.
Correas
also entered Listen Boy (20-1), a winner of one race in five starts.
Horacio Karamanos was aboard for her maiden win and regains the mount.
“She
is better on the grass though I do think you can draw a line through
her last two races,” added Correas. “She didn’t like the mud at all
(December 29) and then stumbled two jumps out of the gate last month
(January 19).”
A
maiden win and an optional claiming victory give Seven Stars (4-1) a
record of two wins, a second and a third in four starts. This will be
the first stakes attempt for the Tony Dutrow trainee. Sheldon Russell
will ride.
After
breaking her maiden and beating allowance company, Sense Of Reality
(5-1) had a troubled trip against Walkwithapurpose in the Wide Country,
finishing fifth. She will try to regroup under Edwin Rivera for trainer
Patricia Farro.
Jose
Corrales trains Purple Plum (6-1), a winner against $25,000 maidens and
a runner-up against optional claimers in her two lifetime starts. Marco
Ccamaque is her regular rider.
Hailey’s
Star (8-1) is riding a two-win streak against optional claiming
company. Hugh McMahon conditions the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. No
rider is named.
Ek
Haseena (12-1) led at the half-way point in the Wide Country, fading at
the end to finish fourth. Before that she put up runner-up finishes in
the Smart Halo and Gin Talking Stakes. Frannie Campitelli trains the
Songandaprayer filly. Alex Cintron picks up the mount.
RIDER STANDINGS HEATING UP WITH ONE MONTH REMAINING IN MEET
The
back and forth battle between apprentice riders Yomar Ortiz and Trevor
McCarthy was on center stage Thursday afternoon. Ortiz began the day
with a one-win lead in the Laurel Park rider standings but McCarthy tied
him and then took the lead with back-to-back scores in the second and
third races with Granted Ruler ($10.40) and Dear Rachel ($3.80),
respectively.
Ortiz
then captured the fourth and fifth races, aboard Stolen Chevy ($2.60)
and Gagne ($10), to regain the lead with 39 victories.
The Laurel winter meet ends Saturday, March 30.