$100,000 Fire Plug Nominees include multiple Grade 3 winners Super Chow and Repo Rocks
2025 Maryland Racing Calendar Giveaway on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18.
BALTIMORE –- Millionaires Post Time and Coastal Mission are among 16 state-bred or -sired performers nominated to the $75,000 Jennings at Laurel Park.
The Jennings, for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile, is one of four stakes races scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18. Also headlining the 11-race program are the $100,000 Fire Plug for 4-year-olds and upward at 6 ½ furlongs, the $100,000 What a Summer for fillies and mares at six furlongs, and the $75,000 Geisha for state-bred or -sired fillies and mares at one mile. Entries will be taken and drawn Sunday, Jan. 12.
Owned by Mrs. Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable and trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time was never off the board from nine starts in 2024, is unbeaten from seven races at Laurel Park, and captured last year’s Jennings. The winner of the Grade 2 Carter Stakes at Aqueduct and the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel, Post Time placed in three Grade 1 races last year including the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In his most recent start, the gray son of Frosted finished third in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct.
Jeff Runco’s Coastal Mission, a West Virginia-bred by top Maryland sire Great Notion, has won 14 of 26 starts, including last year’s Grade 3 Forty Niner Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Coastal Mission completed his 2024 campaign with a fourth-place effort in the Cigar Mile.
Maryland Million Classic winner Brilliant Ice, stakes-winner Speedyness, and stakes-placed Hittheroadjak are also prominent among nominees.
Super Chow is one of 17 nominees to the Fire Plug. A 5-year-old son of Lord Nelson owned by Lea Farms and trained by Jorge Delgado, Super Chow enjoyed a successful 2024, winning the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct and the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico. He finished sixth in his most recent start, the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream on Dec. 28.
Multiple Grade 3 winner Repo Rocks is closing in on $1 million in lifetime earnings and would make his Laurel debut in the Fire Plug after finishing third in Parx’s Kris Kringle Stakes on New Year’s Eve. Repo Rocks is owned by Double B Racing Stables and trained by Jamie Ness.
Multiple stakes-winners Celtic Contender, Prince of Jericho, and Grade 3-placed Worcester are notable nominees.
The What a Summer attracted 16 strong nominations. Irish Three Racing’s Irish Maxima earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer John Servis when dominating Parx’s Mrs. Claus Stakes by 13 ¾ lengths on Dec. 31. Kant Hurry Love, Ms. Bucchero, Roanan Goddess, and Spencerian all won stakes races in their final starts of 2024.
Last year’s winner, Malibu Moonshine, looks to return to the winner’s circle in the Geisha. Claimed by Ronald Harris Parker and Todd Beattie for $25,000 at Saratoga on Aug. 29, Malibu Moonshine finished sixth in a second-level allowance at Laurel on Dec. 21.
Northern Glow, second in the 2024 Geisha, is one of two nominees conditioned by Brittany Russell, along with recent second-level allowance winner Oncourtcommentator. Politely Stakes winner Spencerian, cross-nominated in the What a Summer, 12-time winner Mavilus, and 8-year-old stakes-winner Bourbon Bon Bay are among the 17 nominations.
On Friday, Jan. 17, and Saturday, Jan. 18, patrons will receive a complimentary 2025 Maryland Racing Calendar while supplies last. Please limit one calendar per customer.