New Jersey-based trainer Ned Allard invaded Laurel Park with another of his speedy 3-year-olds yesterday and won the $34,650 Horatius Stakes with Gilbert Campbell's Dakota's Trick.
The son of sprint sire Clever Trick was expected to vie for the early lead with John Alecci's Carolina Blues. But jockey Rick Wilson said Dakota's Trick was "looking around" when the gate opened and got off to a poor start.
"I just said, 'Aw, shucks,' when I saw that happen," Allard said.
Carolina Blues opened an uncontested three-length lead, but was overtaken by a rallying Dakota's Trick in the last sixteenth of a mile.
"This horse showed a lot of guts to come on like he did after being outrun," Wilson said.
Dakota's Trick ran the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1 minute, 31 3/5 seconds.
Allard said Campbell had purchased the colt for $70,000 early last year in the Ocala, Fla., 2-year-old sales.
The victory marked a weekend stakes double for Wilson. On Saturday, he won the $60,000 Jameela Stakes with White Cliffs.
Last month, Allard won Laurel's Dancing Count Stakes with another 3-year-old, Ponto Luck, who is being pointed for the Cherry Hill Mile at Garden State Park.
Although no offspring of the Maryland stallion Horatius contested the race, Horatius syndicate manager Charles McGinnes presented Kenny Johnson, groom of Dakota's Trick, with a check for $100.
3 Californians may fly in
Three horses from California could fly in for this weekend's Sprintfest stakes program at Laurel, according to Lenny Hale, the track's vice president of racing. Desert Stormer, a daughter of Storm Cat, might start in Saturday's Barbara Fritchie Handicap, and a pair of older sprinters, Powis Castle and Finder's Fortune, could go in Monday's General George Stakes. Desert Stormer is trained by Fabio Nor. Powis Castle and Finder's Fortune come from the barns of Rodney Rash and Darrell Vienna, respectively.