LAUREL, MD – Mens Grill Racing’s Maryland-bred Enchanted Ghost used a comfortable early lead to her advantage, storing enough energy to outbattle a very tough Indy’s Lady in the stretch run to take Monday’s $100,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes at Laurel Park.
Breaking smartly from post at 6/1 odds under Jevian Toldeo, Enchanted Ghost cleared her inside foe but stayed off the rail heading into the clubhouse turn while securing frontward position. The Hamilton Smith trainee was allowed to post uncontested opening fractions of :24.50 and :49.12 before Indy’s Lady made a bid for the lead in the far turn along her outside. The two fillies emerged onto the top of the stretch running stride for stride, but near the 1/16 pole, Enchanted Ghost pushed her white blaze-adorned face in front enough to win by a 1/2-length in a final time of 1:44.84 for the 1 1/16-mile event over the muddy main track.
The 6/5 favorite Timeless Curls was unable to improve from her early stalking position and had to settle for third, 2 1/4 lengths off of second. Isotope took fourth over Blue Union Rags, with Sweet Maggie Mae, Mzima Springs, and Saint Main Event completing the order of finish.
As a result of her victory, Enchanted Ghost’s connections also won a breeding season to stallion Dortmund, courtesy of his owner, Kaleem Shah.
Enchanted Ghost’s win was her first in exactly a year, having taken the $100,000 Wide Country Stakes over a similarly-muddy surface. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper improved her record to 13-4-1-6 with $228,682 in earnings.
Enchanted Ghost returned $15.20 to win, $7.80 to place, and $4.60 to show. Indy’s Lady brought back $6.40 to place and $4.60 to show, while Timeless Curls paid $2.80 to show.
