Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Prince of Jericho takes on Coffeewithchris once again
Prince of Jericho and Coffeewithchris have their rubber match at Laurel Park in Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds at one mile.
Coffeewithchris pulled off a 16-1 upset over Prince of Jericho in the seven-furlong Heft at Laurel on Dec. 30. Twenty-two days later, it was Prince of Jericho’s turn with a four-length victory over Coffeewithchris in the Spectacular Bid, also at seven-eighths.
After Prince of Jericho’s loss in the Heft, both his trainer, Brittany Russell, and jockey, Sheldon Russell, said they should have put more pressure on the frontrunning Coffeewithchris. Carol Cedeno picked up the mount on Prince of Jericho in the Spectacular Bid and didn’t let Coffeewithchris get too far away.
“It was the race we were looking for,” Brittany Russell said. “I’m excited to see this horse go a little bit farther.”
Conversely, trainer John Salzman Jr. said he’s not sure Coffeewithchris will be as good going a mile as at seven furlongs.
“Seven-eighths seems like he’s fine, so I’ve got to give him a chance going the mile,” he said.
Salzman is hoping Coffeewithchris will have an easier time of it on or just off the early lead than he did in the Spectacular Bid.
B West, third, beaten 8 1/2 lengths in the Spectacular Bid, also returns in the Miracle Wood. Trainer John Robb said B West lost his action when dirt hit him in the face on the backstretch of the Spectacular Bid.
“All in all, I was happy with the performance,” he said. “He never had dirt in his face before.”
Riccio, third in the Heft, adds blinkers and races as a first-time gelding. A hulking son of Cross Traffic, Riccio ran third in the Rocky Run at Delaware Park last fall in his only start at a mile.
We Dont Need Roads was purchased for $100,000 at Timonium in December, then missed time with a minor foot issue. Sixth in the Spectacular Bid, he’ll add Lasix for the Miracle Wood. Trainer Mark Salvaggio said last month he wants to get the colt more distance.
Feeling Woozy and Seven’s Eleven also were entered.
Wide Country Stakes
Russell saddles L Street Lady in the $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
A daughter of Munnings, L Street Lady is 2 for 2 on dirt. She pressed the pace when winning the Xtra Heat at Laurel on Jan. 21 despite failing to change leads.
“I think she’s doing better now than she’s done in the past,” Russell said.
Stonewall Star ships down from New York for trainer Horacio De Paz. Third in Laurel’s Gin Talking behind Malibu Moonshine in her final start at 2, she dominated New York-breds in Aqueduct’s Franklin Square on Jan. 22.
Stonewall Star should show speed in the Wide Country along with Chickieness, winner of the Maryland Million Lassie. Chickieness raced with blinkers for the first time in the Xtra Heat, made the lead and the rail, and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by L Street Lady.
Sally’s Sassy has won the Golden Gate Debutante and an allowance race in her last two starts, both over the Golden Gate Tapeta. The Wide Country is her first race on dirt.
Gormley’s Gabriela and We’ll See complete the field.
John B. Campbell Stakes
Nimitz Class might have found his niche going two turns on dirt when he won the Robert T. Manfuso at Laurel on Dec. 30. On Saturday, he faces four of the same rivals in the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-yearolds and up at about 1 1/16 miles.
Nimitz Class squares off with a salty group in the Campbell, including three trained by Lynn Cash: Plot the Dots, Treasure Trove, and Double Crown. Plot the Dots won the restricted Jennings two back, Treasure Trove has won three of his last four starts, and Double Crown upset the Grade 2 Kelso at Aqueduct last fall.
Other contenders include multiple stakes winners Shake Em Loose, Armando R, and Forewarned. Also in the field are stakes winners Ournationonparade and Vance Scholars, and Ain’t Da Beer Cold.
Nellie Morse Stakes
Two-time stakes winner Hybrid Eclipse carries Russell’s hopes in the $100,000 Nellie Morse for fillies and mares at about 1 1/16 miles. She took advantage of a hot pace to win the Thirty Eight Go Go on Nov. 12, but was unable to close into slow fractions and finished third in the Carousel on Dec. 30. Hybrid Eclipse made a backstretch bid into contention in the 1 1/8-mile Carousel and then chased hard on the second turn. She wound up beaten 8 1/2 lengths by the pacesetting winner, Malibu Beauty.
Award Wanted seeks her third consecutive victory after winning the restricted Geisha on Jan. 21 with a perfect railskimming trip. Buy the Best stretches out beyond seven furlongs for the first time in the Nellie Morse. Mona Tiger, Runaway Monet, Pistol Liz Ablazen, and Ninetyper-centbrynn also are entered.