Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Lewisfield is looking tough
Lewisfield is based at Charles Town with trainer Jeff Runco but feels equally at home at Laurel Park, where he has scored four of his five career victories. On Saturday, following two races on the road, he returns to Laurel for the $75,000 Polynesian.
The Polynesian, a sevenfurlong race for 3-year-olds and up, is a key race in the MidAtlantic Championships dirt sprint division. A win would tie Lewisfield for the overall MATCH championship lead with Page McKenney.
Lewisfield has 12 points and holds a narrow division lead. A victory Sunday would put him in a strong position coming into the series finale, the Grade 3, $250,000 De Francis Memorial Dash on Sept. 15 at Laurel.
Laki (8 points), It’s the Journey (5), and Fellowship (1) also are entered in the Polynesian. Points are earned on a 10-7-5-32-1 basis determined by finish position. Because the Polynesian is Laki’s fourth MATCH Series start, he will earn an additional 5-point participation bonus.
Lewisfield won the Not For Love Stakes for Maryland-breds at Laurel in March. Although he hasn’t won in three ensuing starts, he has raced well and will be favored in the Polynesian.
A 4-year-old gelding by Great Notion who was bred and is owned by Linda Zang, Lewisfield finished third over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico. He was a close second in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park in June and finished fourth in the Grade 3 Belmont Park Sprint Championship last time out, despite being bumped solidly in upper stretch.
“He’s had a couple of good works between this race and his race at Belmont, and he’s doing well,” Runco said.
It’s the Journey and Laki finished fourth and fifth in a deep running of the Hockessin Stakes at Delaware Park in their most recent start. Always Sunshine pulled away to score by 3 1/4 lengths that day, while It’s the Journey came out on the wrong end of a three-way battle for second with Stallwalkin’ Dude and The Man.
It’s the Journey was bumped at the start of the Hockessin, then was gaining momentum at the end of the six-furlong race. He should enjoy the Polynesian’s extra furlong.
It was 3 1/4 lengths back from It’s the Journey to Laki in fifth.
Cool Arrow finished last of eight in the Iowa Sprint in July but has a right to improve Sunday, according to trainer Joe Sharp.
“He actually scoped dirty after the race at Prairie Meadows last time and was out of sorts,” Sharp said.
Fellowship will be trying to get back on track after four consecutive double-digit losses. He finished second, beaten a neck, in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel in February.