Blame Debbie’s Triumphant Return Highlights Pimlico Sunday Stakes Action

BALTIMORE, MD – Trainer Graham Motion’s Grade 3 champion Blame Debbie kicked off her 2021 campaign with a strong gate-to-wire victory in Sunday’s 1 1/2-mile $100,000 Searching Stakes, highlighting Sunday’s five stakes at Pimlico.

“Pimlico is my local track. I love running here. This is where we like to run,” Motion said. “And to have a stake like this, there’s less and less of these distance stakes around, so it was just such a good opportunity to get started this year.”

$100,000 Searching Stakes

Blame Debbie returned from 200 days off to wire the 1 1/2-mile good turf marathon in a turtle-like final time of 2:38.50. Victor Carrasco was aboard the 4-year-old Blame filly owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Cloonan, and Timothy Hornton.

Luck Money, Crystalle, Whatdoesasharksay, Breviary, and Proper Storm completed the order of finish. Beautiful Lover and Scatrattleandroll scratched.

Blame Debbie returned $6.20 to win, $3 to place, and $2.20 to show. Luck Money brought back $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Crystalle paid $2.20 to show.

$75,000 Ben’s Cat Stakes

Over half the field of Maryland-bred or sired horses scratched when the race was taken off the turf, but trainer Rodney Jenkins’ Valued Notion stayed in and stayed on the length of the stretch, winning the 5-furlong fast dirt sprint by 2 lengths. Xavier Perez rode the 4-year-old Great Notion gelding, who was making his stakes debut for owner Hillwood Stable.

Air Token, Oldies But Goodies, Hemp, So Street, and Xmasinthecity completed the order of finish. Cannon’s Roar, Godlovesasinner, Introduced, Joseph, Love You So Much, Matta, and Railmaster scratched.

Valued Notion returned $18 to win, $6.60 to place, and $5.80 to show. Air Token brought back $4.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Oldies But Goodies paid $5.20 to show.

$100,000 Prince George’s County Stakes

Godolphin homebred Pixelate made good on his even-money favoritism, rallying from mid-pack to win the 1 1/8-mile good turf route by 1 length. Joe Bravo rode the 4-year-old City Zip colt for trainer Michael Stidham.

Logical Myth, Eons, Argonne, Midnight Tea Time, Talk Or Listen, English Bee, Mokheef, Alwaysmining, Doc Boy, and Glad Moon completed the order of finish. Shane’s Jewel was a Main Track Only entry.

Pixelate returned $4.20 to win, $3 to place, and $2.60 to show. Logical Myth brought back $8.60 to place and $4.40 to show. Eons paid $4.40 to show.

$100,000 Shine Again Stakes

Daniel Lopez and George Chestnut homebred Chub Wagon overcame her stiffest test to date by gamely outdueling Hello Beautiful to remain undefeated after taking the 6-furlong fast dirt sprint by a neck. Jomar Torres piloted the 4-year-old Hey Chub filly for trainer Guadalupe Preciado.

Paisley Singing, Never Enough Time, Anna’s Bandit, Lucre, Unique Factor, and Dontletsweetfoolya completed the order of finish.

Chub Wagon returned $3 to win, $2.20 to place, and $2.10 to show. Hello Beautiful brought back $3 to place and $2.60 to show. Paisley Singing paid $8.60 to show.

$100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes

Lucky 7 Stables’ Street Lute rebounded from her first career off-the-board finish with a rallying 1/2-length score over Malibu Beauty and Prodigy Doll, themselves separated by a nose for second. Xavier Perez was aboard the Maryland-bred 3-year-old Street Magician filly for trainer John Robb.

Proper Attire, Whiskey and Rye, Beautiful Grace, and Catching the Wind completed the order of finish. Amanzi Yimpilo, Can’t Buy Love, Door Buster, Honey Pants, What a Trick, and Wink all scratched after the 5-furlong sprint was moved off the turf.

Street Lute returned $4.20 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Malibu Beauty brought back $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Prodigy Doll paid $6 to show.