Laurelin keeps perfect record intact in Listed $150K Memories of Silver
Newstead Stables’ Laurelin extended her perfect record to 3-for-3 with a stalk-and-pounce score in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Memories of Silver, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Zarak picked up right where she left off this fall after posting wins at the Big A with a debut graduation in October and a determined half-length victory in the Tepin over course and distance in November. The filly has notched all three of her wins with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.
“That was very cool. She’s just a stone-cold runner this filly,” Motion said. “I really wasn’t sure if she was fit enough today, but I wanted to get her started in this race because she does so well at Aqueduct and Kendrick gets along so well with her.”
Laurelin was a stalking winner after breaking from post 2-of-7 and settling mid-pack behind the pace set by a sharp Opulent Restraint, who broke on top and was coaxed along the front end by Irad Ortiz, Jr. through an opening quarter-mile in 23.11 seconds over the good footing.
Burner Account tracked in second down the backstretch with Italian Soiree and Icona Mama following suit while Carmouche made an early move to urge Laurelin between rivals and improve to third through the half-mile in 48.60.
"I thought Irad was going pretty easy on the lead and I just had to get a little bit closer to him down the backside, so he didn’t get away from me,” Carmouche explained. “I was on the best horse, I felt, so I was able to do what I wanted.”
Motion added he was not worried to see Laurelin advance up the backstretch.
“This filly is so push button you can do anything you want with her, and I think, for that reason, she’s not going to get in trouble because you can always get out of trouble,” Motion concluded.
Rounding the turn Carmouche angled Laurelin to the outside of Opulent Restraint and nudged her along as a backpedaling Burner Account drifted in and caused Italian Soiree to steady and bump with the favored Virgin Colada, who had her rally from last stymied.
The top duo drew clear of their troubled rivals after three-quarters in 1:14.05 and a stubborn Opulent Restraint dug in along the rail inside the eighth pole as Laurelin crept closer with every stride to her outside. Opulent Restraint refused to yield and Virgin Colada was making her belated run in the center of the course, but Laurelin proved best in the final yards to drive home a neck winner in a final time of 1:38.68.
Opulent Restraint finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Virgin Colada with Candy Quest completing the superfecta. Italian Soiree, Burner Account and Icona Mama completed the order of finish. Shesinamood and Love Cevere were scratched, along with main track only entrant Bernieandtherose.
Carmouche said the challenge from Opulent Restraint to his inside helped to keep Laurelin to task.
“My filly got a little lost once I got there [to the lead] because the wind is blowing so hard. She kind of got distracted,” Carmouche explained. “As soon as she felt that horse there, she pinned her ears and wanted to go at it again.
“She seems like she’s an 8-year-old when she’s only a 3-year-old,” Carmouche added. “That’s really good in a racehorse, that’s what you want to feel. That’s what’s going to get you further running against good horses. That always helps.”
The win brought Carmouche’s total wins at the Aqueduct spring meet to 21, enough to secure him the riding title after being tied with Dylan Davis with 20 wins each throughout the card.
“It’s amazing. This is what we’re in it for, to be successful and be at the top. I’m at the top of my game,” Carmouche said. “The people I ride for are good with my agent [Jimmy Riccio, Jr.] and good with me, and we all want to succeed at the end of the day.”
Motion said lucrative races could be on the horizon for Laurelin, including the Group 1 Coronation on June 20 at Royal Ascot, or the Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again on June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
“I think everything is on the table at this point,” Motion said. “I will nominate her to the Coronation at Ascot in June. But there’s so many nice races for 3-year-old fillies over here as well, so we have a lot of options. The one thing I’ll say is I won’t be in a hurry to run her back, I thought she ran a big race today.”
Bred in Ireland by M.H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates, Laurelin was a
$169,488 purchase from Book 1 of the 2023 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Cape Cross mare Bari, making her a half-sister to Irish stakes-winner Maude Gonne Spirit. Laurelin banked $82,500 in victory while returning $6.90 on a $2 win wager. She is campaigned by the South African-based Steven and Jessica Jell.
“This is a clever filly for these owners,” Motion said. “They’re newer in America and they’re tremendous supporters of ours. She was picked out by their agent at Goffs and this is a big deal for them – for all of us.”
Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct for Opening Day of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet. First post for the eight-race card is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
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