Las Setas Runs Away Well Beyond The Wire

LAUREL, MD – In what is quickly becoming commonplace, Las Setas broke on top and dominated her foes from gate to wire in Saturday’s Beyond The Wire Stakes at Laurel Park.

Breaking from post 7 under Jevian Toledo as the even-money favorite, Las Setas outhustled It Justhitthe Wire and Our Super Freak for the lead before settling comfortably and posting unpressured fractions of :24.78 and :48.23. Midway through the far turn, Our Super Freak made a bid for the front, but she soon came up empty. Still motionless by the top of the stretch, Toledo peeked behind for a status check on the rest of the field, then gave his steed her cue. Responding immediately, Las Setas drew off strongly before being geared down in the final stages of the race. Her winning margin of 5 lengths came in a final time of 1:37.82 for the mile-long event over the fast main track.

“She did it really easy,” Toledo said “She took the lead and then put her ears up waiting for horses, and when I asked her, she just took off and kept going. You could see in the last 1/16; she put her ears back up again, waiting for horses. I don’t think she could have done it easier than that.”

Crafty’s Dream came rallying from the rear just in time to steal second from Our Super Freak by a 1/2-length. It Justhitthe Wire weakened to fourth, with Discreet Sister nearly catching her before coming up short. Afleet Destiny and Destiny Over Fate completed the order of finish. The lone scratch was Pat’s No Fool.

Las Setas’ win was her third straight, all of them in 2019 while going one-turn distances at Laurel Park, including the Wide Country Stakes last out on February 16. The 3-year-old daughter of the German stallion Seville is co-owned by Wayne Harrison and breeders Robert Manfuso and Katharine Voss, with the latter also serving as trainer. Las Setas’ dam, Tanca, also produced Cordmaker, the winner of the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes two races prior on the same card.

“It’s fantastic for the mare to win two stakes the same day,” Voss said. “I was happy last time when she went :23 and 1, so when I saw :24 and change, I said, ‘That shouldn’t be a problem.'”

Las Setas returned $4.20 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.40 to show. Crafty’s Dream brought back $8.40 to place and $3.40 to show, while Our Super Freak paid $2.60 to show.