Dubini Returns to Peak Form in $100,000 Laurel Dash

LAUREL, MD – Fully recovered from a bout of colic that had interrupted his 2019 campaign, Pewter Stable’s Dubini rallied from last to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Dash presented by Fidelity First and Blackwell Real Estate at Laurel Park.

The Laurel Dash, a 5 1/2-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up, was one of eight stakes worth $1.3 million in purses on the September to Remember program that featured the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3).

“I’m just thankful to be here. I have to thank everyone who helped with this horse, because he did colic. That’s why we had to sit out the season,” trainer Kathleen Demasi said. “It’s so redeeming to have him come back to run three incredible races off the bench.”

Dubini finished second in last year’s Laurel Dash, in which he fell a 1/2-length short of holding off Clash and Cash.

Dubini, who finished third in a stakes at Colonial and second in the Turf Monster (G3) at Parx in his two recent starts, settled near the rear of the nine horse field as Oldies But Goodies and Smokin Nitro contested the early pace through swift fractions of 21.64 and 44.27 for the first 1/2-mile. Daniel Centeno sat chilly aboard Dubini in ninth place after the field straightened for home with Fielder surging to the lead in mid-stretch. When asked for his run in the stretch, Dubini lengthened strides on the outside and got up to win by 3/4 of a length.

“That’s his style and Danny rode him great today. You can’t rush him. He wants to do his thing.,” Demasi said. “I thought I was in a little bit of trouble in mid-stretch. I said, ‘I don’t think he’s going to get up for a piece,’ and all of a sudden he took off. It’s a long stretch.”

Dubini ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:01.71 to capture his fifth win in 18 career starts and first success since Aug. 19, 2017.

Fielder held second, 3/4 of a length in front of 2/1 favorite Dirty.