Sweet Talker Enjoys Final Word at Laurel Meet

Courtlandt Farm's Sweet Talker, under Ramon Dominguez, separated herself from the pack around the far turn and drew away to a 1 1/2-length victory in Sunday's closing day feature at Laurel Park, the $60,000 Dahlia Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf.

Sweet Talker, a 4-year-old daughter of Stormin Fever, has now won five added money races, but this was her first for trainer Graham Motion. Her owners purchased Sweet Talker last fall at Keeneland after she won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (gr. IT). The filly also took the Martha Washington Stakes at Laurel last September.

The winner completed the one turn, one-mile distance in 1:34.17 over the firm turf. The final time established a record at the distance, beating the old mark of 1:34.26 set by Tune of Spirit on November 13, 2005.

Sweet Talker paid $3.60, $3 and $2.80. A pair of 10-1 shots followed with Smart N Classy ($5.80, $4.40), ridden by Jose Velez Jr., rallying to take second by a half-length over Humoristic ($7.60) and Horacio Karamanos.

Sweet Talker is now eight for 14 lifetime with 11 in the money finishes and earnings of $718,723.

(Chart, Equibase)