$100,000 Turf Sprint for 3YO Fillies Launches Summer Stakes
Zabracadabra Rolls to Opening Day Feature Victory Friday

BALTIMORE – Bound by Destiny, a two-time stakes winner on dirt yet to race on turf, and stablemate Bosserati, unbeaten in a pair of sprints since being moved to the grass, are among 33 sophomore fillies nominated to the $100,000 Stormy Blues Sunday, June 18 at Laurel Park.

The 15th running of the Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the grass kicks off Laurel’s summer program featuring 16 stakes worth $1.525 million in purses highlighted by the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for 3-year-olds and up.

Black Cloud Racing Stable’s Bound by Destiny won the Blue Hen and Small Wonder at Delaware Park and was seventh in Laurel’s Smart Halo last year for previous trainer Anthony Pecoraro. Moved to Brittany Russell, coming off defense of her 2022 Preakness Meet at historic Pimlico Race Course title, the Lord Nelson filly was sixth following a slow start the May 19 Miss Preakness (G3), her season debut. Bound by Destiny breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds Friday at Delaware Park, fastest of 15 horses.

Joel Politi’s Bosserati also began her career on the dirt, capturing a four-furlong maiden special weight at first asking last September at Timonium. She failed to find the winner’s circle again in her next six starts, running third in the Maryland Million Lassie, before capturing her turf debut in a five-furlong claimer May 12 at Pimlico. She captured an open allowance at the same course and distance June 2, both wins coming over older horses.

Russell also nominated three horses that have run exclusively on dirt – Apple Picker, a front-running 6 ¾-length allowance winner May 25 at Delaware Park; undefeated Goodgirl Badhabits, entered in Friday’s Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park; and Jan. 21 Xtra Heat winner L Street Lady, third in the Miss Preakness and entered in Sunday’s re-scheduled Jersey Girl at Belmont.

Also prominent among nominees are impressive Keeneland maiden winner After Eight, who tired to seventh after setting the pace in the one-mile Hilltop May 20 at Pimlico; Dontlookbackatall, fourth in a pair of New York stakes attempts last fall for trainer Christophe Clement, and stablemates Loon Cry and Love Appeals, both exiting wins; Foolish, a last out maiden winner April 30 on the Santa Anita turf; Happy Clouds, runner-up in Laurel’s March 18 Beyond the Wire on dirt; Just a Care, second in the five-furlong Melody of Colors March 25 at Gulfstream Park; 2022 Colleen winner Sweet Harmony; Jan. 22 Gasparilla winner Opus Forty Two; and multiple stakes-placed Mohawk Trail and Skylar’s Sister.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for the Stormy Blues on Monday, June 12.

In addition to live racing, Father’s Day at Laurel will offer an all-inclusive experience that features a complimentary Old Fashioned at the door and curated food and beverage menu at a cost of $80 for adults and $40 for youths. For more information click here.

The Stormy Blues is named for one of the top 2-year-old fillies of 1994 trained by late Hall of Famer Scotty Schulhofer whose four wins in six starts that year included the Matron (G1), Sorority (G3) and Selima (G3), the latter at Laurel Park.

Notes: Frank Sample’s 6-year-old gelding Zabracadabra ($3.60), bred in Washington state, romped to his seventh lifetime win and fifth at Laurel in Friday’s summer meet opening day feature, an open allowance for 3-year-olds and up. The winning time was 1:35.97 for one mile over a fast main track … Jockey Carlos Lopez swept the late daily double aboard Zabracadabra and Tall Order ($4) in Race 9 … Riding for trainer Mike Geralis, journeyman Joe Rocco Jr. won Friday’s opener aboard 5-year-old mare Mary Jane Chrome ($7.80). According to Equibase it was Rocco’s first win at Laurel since Cool Tears Dec. 18, 2014 and first mount back since Dec. 20, 2014 … Jockey Jaime Rodriguez piloted 4-year-old gelding Berks ($4.40) to a popular front-running starter optional claiming triumph in Race 6 on Friday’s opening day program of the Laurel Park meet, giving the rider his 1,995th career victory … Jockey Victor Carrasco was shaken up when his mount, Appendage, reared in the gate before Race 4. Carrasco was replaced on Appendage, who finished third under Carlos Lopez, but came back to capture Race 5 with Gunslinger ($6.40) … There will be a carryover of $870.62 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 for Saturday’s nine-race program. Post time is 12:25 p.m.