Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, Md. – Mary Raymond’s Dont Blame the Cat flew around his fellow 3-year-olds and charged to victory in the $70,000 Miracle Wood Stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Erick Rodriquez, Dont Blame the Cat was winning for the second straight time at Laurel. Now three-for-four lifetime, the son of Catienus finished the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.22, a length ahead of late charging 47-1 longshot Regal Warrior, as speedy Cole T. held on to third. The winner paid $4.60 and topped a $122.20 exacta and $974 trifecta.

“The instructions were just to take him back but be close,” Rodriguez said. “It was good to be on the outside because I let the speed go and get good position. I got a really good trip.”

Rodriguez won three races on the card and visited the winners’ circle seven times from just 13 mounts this week. He sits atop the rider standings with 27 victories, four more than Julian Pimentel.

“Things are going well,” added Rodriguez. “We are riding quality horses for good trainers.”

Dutrow runners have won seven of nine starts at Laurel during the current winter meeting.

Four of the previous 14 winners of the Miracle Wood started in a Triple Crown race, including Sweetnorthernsaint (2006), who was the betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby and finished second in the Preakness.

ENCAUSTIC WINS STAR-STUDDED ALLOWANCE RACE

Encaustic, who finished second to Grade 2 General George winner Greenspring in the Native Dancer Stakes here last month, was an impressive winner over an impressive allowance field in today’s 9th race.

Encaustic slipped clear of them all going down the backstretch and dashed home a convincing winner. Mark Shuman trains the son Broad Brush, who won by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:35.55 for the one mile distance. The six-year-old, who won a pair of stakes races a year ago at Mountaineer Park, boosted his career earnings to $505,035 and now has eight wins and 26 on the board finishes in 41 lifetime starts.

The field also featured Ah Day and Russell Road, both 10-time stakes winners, Grade 3 winner No Advantage and In the Juice. The five starters have combined to win 45 races, including 24 stakes, for earnings of nearly $2.5 million.

Post-time favorite No Advantage raced in closest pursuit and finished second. Ah Day was third. In the Juice outlasted Russell Road for fourth.

The winner paid $8.60. He was ridden by Justin Shepherd.