Gamblers just can’t wait for the Winter Sprintfest meeting at Laurel Park in Maryland on February 19. There are six stakes races taking place with $900,000 in prize money to be won.
It’s not just the Del Mar racecourse that has some great events. This Laurel Park card is going to be one thrill after another for gamblers. One highlight is the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes.
When trying to pick winners, those making bets often need as much help as they can get. Reading a horse betting guide can be very helpful indeed.
The Barbara Fritchie Stakes was first run in 70 years ago in 2022. It’s named in honor of a true American patriot. Not many people aged 95 want to get out on the street and campaign against General ‘Stonewall’ Jackson and his troops but that’s what this woman did.
This race was initially held at the Bowie Race Course up until 1984. It’s a Grade 3 race for fillies and mares aged four years or more and run over seven furlongs on dirt. Anyone Betting on Hibiscus Punch in 2021 would have been delighted. The six-year-old was the winner, the first of that age to win the race since Magic Feeling in 2012.
Backing a five-year-old in the Barbara Fritchie Stakes is a good idea. Five of the last eight winners have been that age. Two of the last four years have seen a four-year-old winner. There have only been three horses that have won this race on two occasions. The last to achieve the feat was Xtra Heat in 2002 and 2003.
A leading contender for this race is likely to be Glass Ceiling who is trained by Charlton Baker. The five-year-old made it three wins from her last four races when the odds-on favorite won an allowance race at Aqueduct on January 23. Backers of this horse had also collected some winnings after successes at Belmont Park last September and Aqueduct in December.
Charlton Baker confirmed after the latest win (it was five and three-quarter lengths to the second) that entering the Barbara Fritchie Stakes was “definitely the plan.” The good news for those planning to bet on Glass Ceiling is that the trainer believes her latest win was achieved “with more in the tank.” A move up to a mile is on the cards in the future but at present seven furlongs “is her game.” Anyone betting on the upcoming Laurel Park must strongly consider this runner.
Another race on the February 19 card is the $250,000 General George Stakes. Historians won’t need to be told that this race is named after President Washington. This race was first held in 1973 and is for horses aged three years or over. Like the Barbara Fritchie Stakes, this is run over seven furlongs on dirt.
Last year it was the six-year-old Share the Ride that won the race. Two of the last four winners have been seven-year-old horses. The last victory for a horse aged four years old was in 2017 when betting on Imperial Hint was a great thing to do.
One interesting statistic is that no horse has ever won the General George Stakes twice. Mike Luzzi rode a record three winners and had substantial gaps between each success. He became a hero of the punters with wins in 1991, 1999, and 2012.
The action-packed Winter Sprintfest meeting also includes the $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes. Whereas the first two races mentioned in this article are named after people, this contest is named after a horse. Miracle Wood was bred in Maryland and won several races.
This is contested by three-year-olds over seven furlongs on dirt. It’s one of the Maryland triple crown prep races. Winning this often sees the winner out again in March attempting to finish first in the Private Terms Stakes. That was the case two years ago, those betting on Lebda to win the Miracle Wood Stakes was successful and again at the Private Terms Stakes the following month.
Those gamblers looking forward to the Preakness Stakes may want to take a close look at this race. Sweetnorthernsaint won this race by a record 10 lengths in 2006 and finished second in the Preakness.
Other races for gamblers to look make hopefully winning wagers on include the Wide Country Stakes, John B Campbell Stakes, and Nellie Morse Stakes, all with $100,000 purses.
The latter of those three races will see Julian Pimental out to ride the winner for the third year in a row. He’s won the Nellie Morse (named after a filly that won the Preakness Stakes) three times in the past four years. A fourth win will equal the record of Mario Pino. Will history be made on this fantastic race card at Laurel Park?