LAUREL, MD – Rafael Lopez’s Naughty Thoughts set a tempered pace early, then blasted away strongly in the stretch to take Saturday’s $100,000 Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park.
Breaking from post 7 under Jevian Toledo at 8/1 odds, Naughty Thoughts raced two-wide outside of Miss Marissa through an opening 1/4-mile in :23.66. She soon cleared her rival and angled toward the rail before completing the first 1/2-mile in :47.37.
Still in hand as she rounded the far turn, Naughty Thoughts was given the signal at the 3/16 pole, and it was all over from there. Kept to a strong hand-ride as she drew away steadily from her foes, Naughty Thoughts crossed 4 3/4 lengths the best.
The Jonathan Maldonado trainee completed the 7-furlong sprint over the fast main track in a final time of 1:24.01.
“I wasn’t surprised because she was training so awesome,” Maldonado said. “I open gallop her after I work her and the exercise rider was really happy the way she was doing it. She’s been training really good. She’s been training bullets in the morning pretty easy and comfortable doing it.”
Princess Cadey didn’t have enough to catch the eventual winner, but her sustained run in the stretch put her second by a length over She’smysunshine. Miss Marissa weakened late to finish fourth, while behind her came the 4/5 favorite Bella Aurora, who made a five-wide bid off of the turn but failed to menace.
Completing the order of finish came Lady George and Bankruptonthebeach. Paisley Singing and Sunday Inn were scratched.
Naughty Thoughts’ win was her first at the stakes level and improved her overall record to 15-4-5-4 with $189,397 earned. The 3-year-old daughter of The Factor has a mark of 5-2-1-2 since being claimed for $25,000 on November 3.
“Obviously, you claim a horse to do good with them,” Maldonado said. “(Lopez) is a really good client. He lets me choose the horses that I want and he supports me, and when you have a client like that, you will do good.”
Naughty Thoughts returned $18.20 to win, $8.40 to place, and $6 to show. Princess Cadey brought back $7.40 to place and $5.20 to show, while She’smysunshine paid $12.40 to show.
