Laurel Park conducted its complete 11-race program yesterday after some early-morning doubt whether a second straight weekend card would be canceled.
Strong winds and chilly temperatures led to a meeting between track management and representatives of the jockeys, with both sides deciding to go ahead.
"There was quite a bit of thought put into it because of the possibility of drifting snow on the track and the wind chill factor, which might have made it too cold to ride," said Laurel general manager John Mooney.
"The riders felt willing to give it a try providing the conditions didn't get worse. So we shortened the post parades, and with the shorter fields we had, there was less time to load.
"That kept everybody out in the weather for a shorter period of time than normal."
Philadelphia Park canceled its thoroughbred racing and The Meadowlands did not run its harness card yesterday because of the weather.
Laurel attached the $54,025 Hoover Stakes (postponed from Saturday) to the card as the 11th race. The prep for the $200,000 General George Handicap Feb. 20 was completed in daylight after the post times were revised.
"We were anxious to get finished when we had light," said Mooney. "We were concerned that the later it got, the colder it would get.
"Fortunately, [track superintendent] John Passero was able to get the snow off the track and there was no moisture left it, so we didn't have other elements to deal with like last winter."
Marry Me Do wins Hoover
In the Hoover Stakes, Marry Me Do rallied to overtake the speed horses and score a neck victory over a determined Night Spirit.
That earned the chestnut gelding a spot in the General George, the highlight of Laurel's Winter SprintFest.
Trainer Ed Gaudet said he plans to run the horse "back in the General George. This was a nice effort for Marry Me Do."
"He ran pretty well," said jockey Mark Johnston of the winner. "I was surprised that the other horse [Night Spirit] kicked in so well at the end."
Larry Reynolds, aboard Night Spirit, said his horse "couldn't have run much better. He set up, kicked in perfectly and ran his heart out."
While running the six furlongs in 1 minute, 10 seconds, Marry Me Do earned $32,415 and pushed his lifetime bankroll above $200,000.
Pallister Bay takes Landaura Stakes
The big filly Pallister Bay notched her third straight impressive victory in the regularly scheduled feature, the $39,375 Landaura Stakes.
Pallister Bay, who stands at 17.1 hands, won by two lengths over closer Quite Proper, part of a Leslie Glazier entry that went off as a slight favorite.
"She keeps improving," said trainer Ron Cartwright of Pallister Bay, a 3-year-old daughter of Frosty The Snowman. "The company keeps getting tougher, but so does she."
Reynolds, who rode the winner, said the horse "has a tendency to wait on other horses after she makes the lead" because of her inexperience. "But she's better than what she's faced."
Miscellaneous
Laurel switches to its new schedule this week with live racing Wednesdays and simulcast-only cards on Mondays, beginning today. There will be a nine-race program this Wednesday, highlighted by a $16,500 allowance test for 3-year-old fillies.