Laobanonaprayer graduated in style with a decisive Victory in the Maid of the Mist Stakes, becoming the second blackytpe winner for freshman sire Laoban, who was recently relocated from Sequel New York to WinStar.
The 2-year-old filly is also the 40th winner and 7th stakes winner to emerge from the storied Hidden Brook Florida training center in Ocala.
Rallying to be third on debut sprinting at Delaware Sept. 14, she was second when extended to a mile there Oct. 5 and added blinkers for this black-type bow. The bay kept an eye on the tightly bunched quartet of front runners from fifth through a :22.93 opening quarter with her only other rival trailing behind her by several lengths.
Keeping close to the group through a :46.5 half-mile, Laobanonaprayer ranged up two wide to tackled pace-setting Frost Me and wore down that rival, who was drifting in and out, in mid-stretch, drawing off in the final sixteenth to win as she pleased.
“What a way to break her maiden,” said winning trainer Daniel Velazquez, who was scoring his first stakes victory. “We knew coming in that adding the blinkers was key; we were a little unhappy about her not switching leads last time. Kendrick [Carmouche] rode a perfect race. There was a hot pace up front.” He continued, “Laoban [sire] is extremely hot. We’re just happy. We enjoy the New York breds. We have two New York-breds [also Velazquez also trains Sleepy Hollow S. winner Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong)]. It’s a successful program.”
Finishing third in the race was Chasing Cara, who was raised at Hidden Brook Farm.
– edited from www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
