Laurel

Trainer Anthony Farrior is facing a possible suspension after a horse he trained allegedly tested positive for the banned substance Metformin, according to a posting Friday on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit website. His status is listed as "Pending: Provisional Suspension--Postponed." Alexa Ravit, the director of communications & outreach for HIWU explained that the wording means, "that B Sample analysis has been requested following a positive A Sample result, so the implementation of the Provisional Suspension is postponed unless/until the B Sample comes back positive." Farrior will be allowed...

A months-long investigation by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority on a cluster of 13 Thoroughbred fatalities at Laurel Park during this year's winter and spring meets has determined that the deaths could not be attributed to any specific, obvious cause. The Nov. 28 report essentially reached the same no-obvious-fault finding that HISA announced back on Sept. 12 after it completed a separate-and similarly exhaustive-report on the 12 equine fatalities that occurred at Churchill Downs in April and May of 2023. "Based on the evidence and information available...

Jockey Jevian Toledo and trainer Brittany Russell defended their titles as leading jockey and trainer respectively as the Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course drew to a close Sunday. Toledo, who ranked second in earnings behind only GI Preakness S. winner John Velazquez, finished with a comfortable 10-win margin over co-runners-up Sheldon Russell, Horacio Karamanos and Victor Carrasco. Both Toledo and Russell are represented by agent Marty Leonard. "It feels great. I'm just blessed that God gave me the good health to be here," Toledo said. "My agent does a...

7th-Laurel, $54,810, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000-$62,500), 4-29, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.47, gd, 10 1/4 lengths. GOODGIRL BADHABITS (f, 3, Mastery--Dazzler, by Vindication), in a near carbon copy of her Mar. 10 debut over this surface, remained undefeated and proved a handy, open-daylight winner. The 1-5 choice swerved right at the break but shot immediately to the front and never let anyone close as she established a comfortable pace. After a first quarter in :23.18, a half in :46.53, and with her ears flicking on the turn, Goodgirl Badhabits kept rolling...

The impasse between Maryland horsemen and the Stronach Group regarding the condition of the main track at Laurel could be nearing a resolution as the two sides are close to an agreement to let John Passero examine the racetrack. Passero is the former track superintendent at Laurel and Pimlico and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) has been insistent on letting him examine the track and have the final say regarding whether or not it was safe and, if not, what fixes were in order. The Stronach Group had brought...

The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC), which cancelled racing this weekend after two fatalities at Laurel Park Thursday, issued a new statement late Saturday regarding the status of the Laurel surface. The statement appears in full below: The Maryland Jockey Club has cancelled its Thursday, Apr. 27 racing program at Laurel Park due to insufficient entries. The racing office will be open and taking entries Sunday for the Friday, Apr. 28 program. We acknowledge the recent statements in the press regarding the safety of our racing surface. However, we want to...

Legislation which will create the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA) was passed by the state's House of Representatives by a vote of 132-2 on Apr. 10, the last day of the state's 2023 General Assembly session. Previously Senate Bill 720 , which is designed to participate in the development of racing and training facilities in the state and operate in the best interests of Thoroughbred racing, passed the state Senate by a 47-0 vote Apr. 6. The bill also states that, "If necessary, the authority will manage and oversee...

AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.75, fm. RHEA MOON (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Callisto Star (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Livia Galilei (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) O-Rockingham Ranch & Talla Racing LLC; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Juan J Hernandez. For brilliant Group 1 winner RHEA MOON (Ire) (f, 3, by Starspangledbanner {Aus} out of Callisto Star {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) the sky is the limit in...

Laurel Park's fall meet ended with a tie for leading rider between journeyman Angel Cruz and 19-year-old apprentice Jeiron Barbosa. In addition, trainer Brittany Russell topped the trainer standings for a third time this year. It was the first riding title for Cruz, who deadheated with Barbosa with 44 wins apiece. Cruz won two races Saturday to secure the tie with Barbosa. The latter is among the contenders for champion apprentice jockey of 2022 and had won both Laurel's spring meet and Pimlico's fall meet titles. Both riders are from...

The Week in Review by T.D. Thornton The annual Claiming Crown races were two weeks ago. But a surprise black-type feast for blue-collar campaigners took place over Thanksgiving weekend, when horses once claimed for tags as low as $10,000 and $16,000 ran away with three of five stakes at Laurel Park, and an 8-year-old gelding bought last year for $10,000 topped a blanket-finish trifecta of previously claimed sprinters in the GIII Fall Highweight H. at Aqueduct. The relic known as the Fall Highweight--in which nominees are assigned weights scaled several...

Mike Repole purchased a majority interest in Robin Doser and Metropolitan Thoroughbreds' undefeated 3-year-old colt Mo Money Mo Honey (Uncle Mo--Stopshoppingdebbie, by Curlin). The colt has been transferred from Benny Feliciano, Jr. to Todd Pletcher. "It's a storybook, man. I keep pinching myself. It's surreal. I'm not sure it's actually happening," said R.J. Bistle, co-owner since 2005 of Metropolitan Moving & Storage in Laurel who races as Metropolitan Thoroughbreds. "It's unbelievable. He arrived in New York okay. I'm sure Todd and his team want to take a look at him...

Randall Gatlin Brandon, 80, passed away Aug. 15, 2022 in his hometown of Camden, South Carolina. He was the son of the late Gatlin Randall and Frances Johns Brandon. Randy  is survived by his wife Kirsty May Brandon, daughters Julie Carter (Andrew) and Lisa Boyle, both of Portland, Oregon, grandchildren Katie and Emma Carter, brothers Dr. Jeff Brandon (Nancy) of Palm Coast, Florida and Kyle Brandon of El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Washington State University and followed with an internship at Auburn University. After completing his internship, he was...