Alwaysmining Tops 38th Federico Tesio

By Emily Shields

Saturday is a big day for Laurel Park, which will run seven stakes races in a row on an 11-race card. The feature is the 38^thrunning of the Federico Tesio Stakes, a “Win and In” race for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse on May 18. Although the Federico Tesio winner regularly shows up in Maryland’s biggest dance, the last horse to do the double was Deputed Testamony in 1983.

#2 Alwaysmining (1-5), a Maryland-bred son of California stallion Stay Thirsty, looks the standout in the $125,000 1 1/8 mile race, which goes as Race 10. He has won five races in a row, including an allowance by 10 lengths and four stakes by a combined 15 lengths. His last loss came while sprinting on the grass; the Kelly Rubley trainee has done exceptionally well from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 on the main track. He is six for seven over this track and worked a bullet on April 5.

#1 Bozzini (10-1) lost by a nose to well-regarded Still Dreaming in an optional claimer last out, but doesn’t have to face that rival today. The son of Desert Party has won two of his last four starts. He has sprinted in his last three, but did break his maiden over 1 mile, 40 yards.

#3 Dixie Drawl (12-1) broke his maiden here two back over a mile then ran fourth in the Private Terms Stakes, beaten 13 ½ lengths by Alwaysmining. #4 Trifor Gold (15-1) hasn’t won since breaking his maiden in November. #5 Tybalt (8-1) was third behind Alwaysmining in his last two starts, both stakes. He has never been worse than third here. #6 Majid (20-1) rounds out the field; he has won two in a row and beat Trifor Gold last out. No rider has been named as of yet.

The other stakes on the card include the fillies’ version of this race, the Weber City Miss Stakes, as Race 9. That race looks to be more hotly contested, with #6 Las Setas (7-5) coming off three straight wins, including two stakes, and #1 Our Super Freak (7-2) running second or third in her last four starts, all stakes.

There is also the $100,000 Frank Whiteley, Jr Stakes, the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes, the $100,000 Primonetta Stakes, the $100,000 Dahlia Stakes, and the $100,000 Hendry S. Clark Stakes. Three of the day’s stakes are on the grass.

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