BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Jagger Inc. and Longball Stables’ Sweet Laura was blocked coming out of the turn and then crowded on the rail in the stretch before prevailing with a determined victory in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming at Colonial Downs Saturday. The 7-year-old daughter of Greenpointcrusader defeated six other fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older over a one-turn mile for her third victory in eight starts this year.
In addition to earning the $44,400 winner’s share of the $73,900 purse, the Jamie Ness-trained Sweet Laura picked up a $3,000 Export Incentive for the victory outside Florida paid to breeder St. Elias Stables by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Ridden by Paco Lopez, Sweet Laura was slow to get under way from post one then rushed to within three lengths of 19-1 longshot leader Spencerian through a first quarter in :22.88 on the fast track. Lopez allowed Sweet Laura to advance and race just behind the three leaders into the turn but could not find a clear path, keeping Sweet Laura under a tight hold until steering to the inside with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. Spencerian came over on Sweet Laura in midstretch as Especially took over in the four path. But Sweet Laura pushed through inside the furlong marker, then caught and passed Especially in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length. Especially was second followed by Liam in the Dust two-and-a-half lengths farther back in third.
Despite all the trouble, Sweet Laura finished in 1:34.18.
Claimed for $25,000 by her connections out of a seven-and-a-quarter length victory at Parx Racing in December, Sweet Laura has two previous wins in seven starts at four different tracks this year. She won a $25,000 starter allowance by six lengths going a mile at Aqueduct on March 28 and an upper level, $50,000 optional claiming by five-and-a-quarter lengths going a mile-and-40 yards at Parx on May 2.
She has now won 15 of 51 career starts with eight seconds and nine thirds with earnings of $444,002. Out of Hot Trip by Trippi, Sweet Laura was a $13,000 purchase by Mario Silva at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where she was consigned by R. Marie Farms.
Return to the June 27 issue of Wire to Wire
