Doctor Mounty Noses Out Score in G3 BWI Turf Cup

LAUREL, MD – Larry Pratt and Dave Alden’s Doctor Mounty overcame a yielding turf course and a six-race slide on Saturday to earn his first career stakes score in the Grade 3, $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes at Laurel Park.

Breaking from the far outside under Forest Boyce at odds of 25/1, Doctor Mounty was content to run near the rear while Abiding Star set opening fractions of :24.38, :49.20, and 1:15.84. Beginning to make his move as the field neared the far turn, Doctor Mounty raced four-wide through the turn before taking command as he straightened for home. Still full of run with the finish line in his sights, Doctor Mounty was challenged by the 1/2 favorite and defending champion Projected in the final furlong. Giving every ounce he had, the Shug McGaughey trainee dug in gamely and held on to win by a nose in a final time of 1:41.78 for the mile-long event.

“I kind of asked him a little earlier,” Boyce said. “There were a couple horses I was keeping my eye on. I wanted to make sure we got the jump on them.”

Irish Strait took third by 5 lengths over Dalarna, while Abiding Star faded badly to fifth. O Dionysus and Siem Riep completed the order of finish. Conquest Panthera, Grasshoppin, and Night Prowler were scratched.

Doctor Mounty’s win was his first since taking an allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs on January 14 and improved his overall record to 22-6-5-2. The 5-year-old son of Street Sense increased his career earnings to $347,060.

Doctor Mounty returned $54.60 to win, $13.60 to place, and $7.80 to show. Projected brought back $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show, while Irish Strait paid $4.20 to show.