Kiaran McLaughlin had a big day at Aqueduct on Saturday, winning three races, including one of the two stakes races on the card. The Evening Attire Stakes was run as the third race on the program and Fitriani Hay’s Redding Colliery led all the way to post a 2-length victory over I Want Revenge, the odds-on favorite. The winner, ridden by Alan Garcia, returned a $6.90 win mutuel.
Darley Stable’s Side Road, a 3-year-old colt, finally put it together in the fifth race, breaking his maiden in his fourth career start. Mike Luzzi was along for the 4-length victory that returned $11.60 to win. Shadwell Stable’s late-developing Ghaaleb then made it 2-for-3 when he won the ninth race, a first-level allowance at a mile around two turns. He paid $7.30 to win. Garcia had the mount.
Naoise Agnew came away a winner after Saturday’s sixth race, a restricted claimer at a mile, at Laurel. His More Mayhem, which he trains, battled the entire trip with Wheresmokethrsfire, and prevailed by a nose over that rival. Juan Rios rode More Mayhem, which was bred in Kentucky by Moyglare Stud. Agnew picked up an additional $7,500 when rival trainer Hugh McMahon claimed the 4-year-old gelding. The win mutuel was $4.20.
The third time proved to be a charm, as did the first and second times, where Cathal Lynch and Bellezza Rosso are concerned. The Derryman is on his third go-round with the 4-year-old filly, winner of Sunday’s fourth race, a 2-turn starter allowance, at Parx. She’s been claimed from him twice before and he’s thought highly enough of her to claim her back twice. Angel Arroyo had the seat on Bellezza Rosso, which is now owned by Earl Daniels and George Scotland. She paid $4.00 to win.
Hog’s Hollow left no doubt who was best in Friday’s second race at Santa Anita. The Pat Gallagher trainee led this second-level allowance race at 10 furlongs on the grass from flagfall to finish, reaching the wire in front by almost four lengths with Rafael Bejarano aboard. Derrick Fisher’s homebred 6-year-old gelding likes to go long – his previous wins came at nine and 11 furlongs. He paid $14.60 in winning this race.
Tugger’s Light didn’t really fit into Eddie Kenneally’s plans, so he offloaded the 3-year-old gelding onto Jimmy Corrigan. The latter got a maiden win out of Tugger’s Light in Saturday’s first race at Turfway Park, the fourth career start for the winner. Tugger’s Light moved up with a flourish on the far turn and led the field to the wire, winning by one and one-half lengths with Victor Lebron in the saddle for a $4.60 win mutuel.
James Graham remains in the thick of the jockeys’ race at Fair Grounds. The Dublin native won two races on both Friday and Sunday to boost his meet total to 50. He trails only Rosie Napravnik, the reigning queen of New Orleans, who has 62.
Graham won Friday’s first race on Sterling Madame ($4.40 to win) and got the second in the seventh race on Wheemaway ($4.60). Purple Barbie ($5.60) got him home on top in Sunday’s second race and he came right back in the third aboard Bergman ($6.40).
