Stakes Winner Galerio Launching Comeback in Saturday Feature

BALTIMORE – Ten-pound apprentice rider Jhovany Paredes celebrated his 22nd birthday in style Friday at Laurel Park by registering his first career victory, a front-running triumph aboard 5-year-old mare I Can Do It.

Bred, owned and trained by Robert Gamber, I Can Do It ($17.80) ran seven furlongs in 1:27.29 over a main track rated good to capture the claiming event for maiden fillies and mares ages 4 and 5 by a length over Brzina.

“I felt like I had a lot of horse so I just went for it and said, ‘If they’re going to beat me, let them beat me at the wire,’” Paredes said. “I got nervous because I thought they were going to catch up so I kept pushing and pushing. I’m just grateful to get my first win, especially on my birthday.”

It was the 37th career mount and first aboard I Can Do It for Paredes, a New York native who made his pro debut July 1, 2022 at Belmont Park. He rode twice in October at Aqueduct before arriving in Maryland where rode for the first time over Thanksgiving weekend.

“I was born and raised in New York and came to Maryland the end of November and kept hustling until I got the opportunity,” Paredes said.

Paredes grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack and was introduced to horses by his father, who started off as a hotwalker, groom and exercise rider and now works as an outrider on the NYRA circuit. At 19, Paredes started galloping horses in New York for trainers such as Rudy Rodriguez and Michelle Nevin.

“When I turned 19 I really wanted to try it out and try my luck,” he said. “From there, Rudy asked me if I ever thought of riding races. I said ‘no,’ but that’s where it all started.”

Paredes was given the traditional water and eggs shower by fellow Maryland riders for getting his first win. His parents, girlfriend and 3-year-old son remain in New York.

“I wish they were here,” he said, “but I’m sure I’ll be getting a phone call pretty soon.”

Paredes is named in one of nine races Saturday, two of eight races Sunday and one of nine races on Monday’s special Martin Luther King Jr. holiday program at Laurel.

Stakes Winner Galerio Launches Comeback in Saturday Feature

Built Wright Stables’ Galerio, unraced in nine months, is the 5-2 program favorite as he launches his comeback against five rivals including fellow stakes winner Vance Scholars in Saturday’s eighth-race feature at Laurel Park.

The third-level optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up will be the first race for the 7-year-old Galerio since being claimed for $50,000 by owner-trainer Norman ‘Lynn’ Cash out of a runner-up finish last April 21 at Laurel.

Galerio, a Maryland-bred son of Jump Start has finished first or second in 26 of 35 lifetime starts with 10 wins, placing in six stakes including the 2021 Salvator Mile (G3) before breaking through with his first stakes victory in Laurel’s John B. Campbell last February.

Steve Newby’s Vance Scholars, off-the-turf winner of the Japan Turf Cup last August at Laurel, is making his 4-year-old debut for new trainer Phillip Capuano, who took over the stable following the retirement of his uncle, Dale Capuano, at the end of 2022. Last out Vance Scholars ran fourth as the favorite in a one-mile optional claimer Dec. 17 at Laurel.

Also entered are Iywaan and Southern District, respectively 2-3 ahead of Vance Scholars Dec. 17; Irish Cork, 18-for-25 lifetime in the money including five wins; and Practical Coach.

Notes: Jockey Angel Cruz doubled Friday aboard Union Fleet ($4) in Race 2 Conductance ($13.20) in Race 9 … Pharoahs Baby Gyal ($6.40), ridden by Jevian Toledo for trainer Brittany Russell, covered one mile over a main track rated good in 1:39.16 to capture Friday’s Race 8 feature, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-old fillies. It was the second win from four starts for the daughter of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah … Rosalee Davison’s She’sarollingstone ($10.80) opened up through the stretch to post a 2 ¾-length victory in Race 7, an allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 4 and up. The winning time for about 1 1/16 miles was 1:46.19 … There will be a carryover of $3,556.69 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 for Saturday’s nine-race program that begins at 12:25 p.m. Tickets with four of six winners Friday were each worth $78.86.