Saturday's Racing: Price Plays At Laurel Park

Laurel Park will run arguably the biggest card of their season Saturday, February 15, with five stakes races including the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3). All of these races can be watched and wagered on with TVG.

The action kicks off with the $100,000 John B Campbell Stakes for older horses going 1 1/16-miles. Alwaysmining (3-1), Monongahela (2-1) and Someday Jones (5-2) will all draw support, but Wait for It is worth a look at 5-1. He won his first start of the year on January 6 and has four wins in eight tries at the distance. The ultra-consistent son of Uptowncharlybrown has knocked heads with several of these and has proven he belongs. He missed in Grade 3 company by just two lengths last year.

The $100,000 Wide Country Stakes goes as Race 5. It is a wide-open affair over seven furlongs for sophomore fillies. Bella Aurora (3-1) is the horse to beat, but She’smysunshine (12-1) offers value. She has won two of her last three starts, was a recent winner in her lone try over the track, and has really improved in her last three starts. She was third in stakes company two back over this distance.

The $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes often produces Preakness Stakes type horses. Albert Park is 7-2 on the morning line after running second in the seven-furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs January 18. The horse who beat him that day, Liam’s Lucky Charm, is entered back in the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds. The Godolphin runner is a stakes winner and is bred to relish the stretch out in ground.

The $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3) drew only six, including recent New York stakes winner Saguaro Row. Victim of Love is the co-longest shot on the board at 8-1 on the morning line despite defeating similar in the What a Summer Stakes here January 18. That was on a wet track, but she did it decisively by nearly four lengths. She is a two-time winner here in four starts, and was a stakes winner last year as well.

The $250,000 General George Stakes (G3) completes the stakes action. The streaking Firenze Fire is 4-5 on the morning line, but consideration should be given to outside horse Wicked Trick at 6-1. He has won six in a row, albiet against lesser in New York, but his speed figures have improved every start since May of 2019. Jose Lezcano makes the trip to ride for trainer Linda Rice.

By Emily Shields for TVG