Photo by Adam Coglianese

An Irish girl in the Big Apple. LAURELIN (IRE) shipped from Fair Hill to Belmont at the Big A for her first race today, and clearly, she understood the assignment. Just a few minutes prior to Laurelin’s start, Smart Union broke her maiden at Keeneland. The conditions were the same – a maiden special for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

With Kendrick Carmouche in the tack, Laurelin survived a bumpy start and then “chased just off the inside through the first turn and then three wide thereafter, came under coaxing near the quarter pole and angled five-wide into upper stretch, rallied to take command a sixteenth from home, then edged away to the finish to prevail.”

Ears up, she galloped under the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of All Night Revival. Kendrick always looks to be having the time of his life on the racetrack, and today his mount was clearly enjoying her debut as well! Great fun to watch.

Laurelin (IRE) was bred by M. H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates. She is by Group 1 winner Zarak (FR) out of Bari (IRE), by Cape Cross (IRE).  Cheers to owners Steven and Jessica Jell of Newstead Stables, LLC!