Stakes Winner Social Fortress Among Nominees for $150,000 Selima
Total of 111 Nominations for Three Stakes Worth $400K Sept. 28
Laurel Fall Meet Resumes with 10-Race Program Friday, Sept. 20

BALTIMORE – Stakes winners Siesta Key, Studlydoright and War Humor and undefeated Reggie Runs Rogue are among 36 2-year-olds nominated to the $150,000 Laurel Futurity Saturday, Sept. 28 at Laurel Park.

The 98th running of the Futurity and 95th renewal of the $150,000 Selima for 2-year-old fillies, each going 1 1/16 miles, co-headline a program with three scheduled grass stakes including the $100,000 Japan Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles.

Godolphin homebred Siesta Key, a son of Into Mischief trained by Brad Cox, graduated in debut Aug. 1 in an off-the-turf maiden special weight at Indiana Downs before rallying for a nose triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Kitten’s Joy Sept. 7 on the grass at Colonial Downs.

Mens Grille Racing Studlydoright, based at Laurel with trainer Jerry Robb, has raced exclusively on dirt through four starts, scoring on debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight sprint May 5 at Laurel. The Nyquist colt upset the 5 ½-furlong Tremont June 6 then ran second as the favorite in the six-furlong Sanford (G3) July 24, both at Saratoga, where he was a troubled seventh in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) last out Sept. 2.

Eric Rizer homebred War Humor broke his maiden by a head in his third start, the 5 ½-furlong Jamestown, Aug. 31 on the Colonial Downs turf. Reggie Runs Rogue, owned, trained and co-bred by Justin Nixon, has made each of his two starts 28 days apart on the dirt at Colonial, winning both by 2 ¼ lengths, the latter Aug. 30.

Also prominent among nominees are Godolphin homebred Cavallo Bay, third in the Aug. 29 With Anticipation (G3) on the Saratoga turf in his North American debut for trainer Charles Appleby; twice stakes-placed Kerness K; and last-out winners Colonel Bob, Gotta Have a Guy, Jus Too Fly, Just a Fair Shake, Lazlo, Lordly, Mission Artemis, Pascaline, Saxton, Soleil Volant and Surfside Moon.

The Futurity has a rich history dating back to 1921 inaugural winner Morvich, who would go on to win the 1922 Kentucky Derby. The Futurity has also been won by Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation and Secretariat along with Barbaro, In Reality, Honest Pleasure, Quadrangle, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid and Tapit.

Trainer Graham Motion used a victory in the 2019 Selima as a prep for Sharing’s upset triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Sharing would race five more times in 2020, winning the Edgewood (G2) and placing in two stakes including a third in the American Oaks (G1).

Motion is represented by a trio of nominees this year including a pair of debut winners – Calumet Farm homebred Correto, who graduated Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Warming, a six-furlong winner June 21 at Aqueduct. He is also represented by High Breeze, fourth in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight Sept. 13 at Laurel.

Joseph Imbesi homebred Social Fortress has won each of her two starts, both in front-running fashion on dirt, for Maryland’s leading trainer, Jamie Ness. The Social Inclusion filly won first time out by 11 lengths July 13 at Delaware Park before following up with a seven-length score in the one-mile Sorority Aug. 24 at Monmouth Park.

Twenty of the 37 Seliima nominees are coming off wins, as well as Sail Theseven Seas, second in the Aug. 3 Keswick on dirt and Aug. 31 Jamestown on turf, both sprinting 5 ½ furlongs at Colonial Downs; and Keswick third-place finisher Safe Trust.

First run in 1926, the Selima is named for the great English race mare who was imported to the U.S. in the 1750s by Benjamin Tasker Jr., manager of the famed Belair Farm in Prince George’s County. The daughter of the Godolphin Arabian, considered ‘Queen of the Turf,’ also gained fame as a broodmare.

Most popular among horsemen with 38 nominations was the Japan Turf Cup led by defending champion Yamato and Armando R, winner of an off-the-turf edition in 2022. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s 7-year-old Yamato has not raced since his victory last fall, which came five starts after being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Mike Maker. Ronald Cuneo’s Armando R has won back-to-back 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowances on the dirt at Laurel.

Nominees include Grade 1 winner Highland Chief; dual graded-stakes winner Offlee Naughty; Grade 3 winners Bold Act, Dynadrive, Highestdistinction, Magic Michael, Sugoi and Tide of the Sea; and multiple stakes winners Cathkin Peak and Dataman, the latter a perfect 2-0 at Laurel with both wins coming in turf stakes – the 2023 Bald Eagle Derby and April 20 Henry S. Clark.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Sunday, Sept. 22 for both stakes.

Notes: Jockey Jevian Toledo notched back-to-back wins Sunday aboard Say Me True ($5.40) in Race 5 and Guapo Again ($8.60) in Race 6 … Repole Stable and LNJ Foxwoods’ 3-year-old filly Be Inspired ($3.60), a $575,000 daughter of Munnings, stalked and pounced for a 4 ¾-length debut triumph in Race 1, capturing the seven-furlong maiden special weight in 1:25.69 over a fast main track. It was the fifth win in her last 10 starts at Laurel for trainer Brittany Russell … 2020 Maryland Million Classic winner Mondy Morning Qb ($3) registered his second straight victory off a $16,000 claim by trainer Kieron Magee in Race 3, a seven-furlong starter optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up … Laurel’s fall meet resumes with a 10-race program Friday, Sept. 20 starting at 12:25 p.m.