(from track report)
Post positions were redrawn for for the grade II Barbara Fritchie and General George handicaps, the seven-furlong sprints that were postponed because of last weekend's snow storms. The $200,000 races are to highlight an 11-race card on Saturday that also features the $75,000 Maryland Racing Media Handicap.The General George will be the 9th race of the afternoon and will have the same number of starters that were expected on Monday. But Affirmed Success, the likely favorite last weekend, will not be one of the dozen. In his place is 2001 General George winner Peeping Tom, who scored an allowance victory at Aqueduct earlier this month. Disturbingthepeace was tabbed as the new 2-1 morning line choice. Trained by Darrell Vienna, the 5-year old won three grade II events in Southern California last year. Ryan Fogelsonger, Laurel's leading rider, has the mount."I will be galloping him tomorrow morning," said Fogelsonger, the 2002 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding apprentice. "While I was in Los Angeles for the Eclipse Award last month, I got a chance to see him run at Santa Anita when he finished third in a stakes race. The assistant trainer told me that seven furlongs is his best distance so this is a tremendous opportunity."Kent Desormeaux will head east to ride 2002 De Francis Dash (gr. I) winner D'wildcat, the 4-1 second choice. The third and fourth choices are a pair of Scott Lake runners, Shake The Dice (9-2), a winner of five straight, and My Cousin Matt (6-1). The eight remaining horses all have double digit odds, including Peeping Tom (15-1).Eight fillies and mares are entered in the Fritchie, one more than last Saturday's field. The two grade I winning headliners, Carson Hollow and Xtra Heat, will break side-by-side, from posts two and three respectively. Xtra Heat is the even money morning line choice, while Carson Hollow is 9-5. The Fritchie will be the 10th race of the day."The only thing that bothers me is the rain that is expected this weekend," said Xtra Heat's trainer John Salzman. "She has showed signs that she doesn't really like a wet track but we are planning on running. We were able to gallop her this morning and had a jock on her around the shed for three of the four days we missed because of the snow. It has been 16 days since she worked and normally we would have worked her again, but it is getting too close to the race."With a victory in the Fritchie, Xtra Heat would become the all-time leading female stakes winner. The 2001 Eclipse Award winner is currently tied with Susan's Girl with 24 added money victories. A win on Saturday would put the 5-year-old in a three-way tie with Stymie and Little Bold John for third on the all-time list behind John Henry, who has 30 stakes wins, and Who Doctor Who with 26.Carson Hollow breezed this morning over the Laurel Park surface, covering three furlongs in 37 1/5 seconds. Desormeaux has picked up the mount for trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr.The third choice in the morning line at 9-2 is Zonk, a multiple graded winner. None of the other five is lower than 10-1.Nine fillies and mares have entered the Maryland Racing Media Handicap, including four stakes winner. The likely favorite will be Zonk's stablemate Pupil, who has been first or second in all eight career starts. $75,000 Maryland Racing Media Handicap (Race 8, 3:59 p.m.), fillies & mares, 4 & up, 1 1/8 mile
PP Horse, Wgt., Jockey
1 Shop Till You Drop (KY), 113, Harry Vega
2 Vikki Slew (FL), 114, Harry Vega
3 Darnestown (MD), 112, Jeremy Rose
4 Mystic Notion (MD), 114, Jose C. Caraballo
5 Special County (MD), 111, J. D. Acosta
6 Pass the Virtue (VA), 120, Alberto Delgado
7 Mojo Gal (MD), 113, Clinton L. Potts
8 Pupil (KY), 112, Stewart Elliott
9 True Sensation (MD), 112, Ryan Fogelsonger$200,000 General George Handicap (gr. II, Race 9, 4:25 p.m.), 3 & up, 7 furlongs
PP Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Peeping Tom (KY), 114, Mario G. Pino
2 Dream Run (KY), 114, Rene R. Douglas
3 Resolve (AZ), 113, Michael J. Luzzi
4 My Cousin Matt (FL), 113, Ramon A. Dominguez
5 D'wildcat (KY), 118, Kent J. Desormeaux
6 American Century (KY), 111, Jeremy Rose
7 Disturbingthepeace (CA), 118, Ryan Fogelsonger
8 Deer Run (MD), 114, Mario G. Pino
9 Stormin Oedy (FL), 113, Nicholas J. Petro
10 Griffinite (KY), 113, Harry Vega
11 Kela (KY), 114, Matt S. Garcia
12 Shake the Dice (KY), 115, Clinton L. Potts$200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II, Race 10, 4:51 p.m.), fillies & mares 3 & up, 7 furlongs
PP Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Heyahohowdy (ON), 112, Clinton L. Potts
2 Carson Hollow (NY), 119, Kent J. Desormeaux
3 Xtra Heat (KY), 125, Rick Wilson
4 Fly Me Crazy (FL), 114, Jeremy Rose
5 Saskya (KY), 111, Ramon A. Dominguez
6 Zonk (KY), 117, Stewart Elliott
7 Pass the Virtue (VA), 114, Alberto Delgado
8 Spelling (KY), 112, Jozbin Z. Santana
