Senior Investment Wires Johnson Memorial

LAUREL, MD – Though he once went 27 months between victories earlier in his career, Richard Malouf’s Senior Investment made it three straight in 2020 when wiring Saturday’s $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes at Laurel Park.

Breaking from the rail under Emmanuel Esquivel at 8/1 odds, Senior Investment cleared off early and ran uncontested, posting slow opening fractions of :25.58, :50.96, and 1:15.12.

The 4/5 favorite Alwaysmining made a bid at the top of the stretch, but Senior Investment shrugged him off and cleared away late. Put to a drive through to the finish, the Scott Lake trainee crossed 5 growing lengths ahead of the pack in a final time of 1:50.96.

“It worked out really good,” Esquivel said. “He broke really sharp. (Alwaysmining) broke a step slow and I was able to walk the first part of the race, so that was good. My plan was to sit behind (Alwaysmining) if he broke good, but it ended up working the other way. He’s a professional horse. He had a perfect trip, and when I asked him, he just went on like nothing.”

Name Changer usurped Alwaysmining for second late after the bettors’ choice made a failed move for the lead. Someday Jones necked out Wait for It to take fourth, while behind them came Forewarned and Bonus Points to complete the order of finish.

Senior Investment’s win was his second at the stakes level, having won the 2017 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, and improved his overall record to 31-7-4-4. The 6-year-old son of Discreetly Mine increased his career earnings to $702,367.

Senior Investment returned $19.80 to win, $8.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. Name Changer brought back $5.80 to place and $3.20 to show, while Alwaysmining paid $2.40 to show.