Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, Md. – The seventh season of the coast-to-coast Magna 5 wager kicks off at Laurel Park with the $70,000 Dancing Count Stakes. The Saturday closer attracted six Maryland-bred 3-year olds who will do battle for six-furlongs. Four races will follow within an hour, two each at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.

The 8-5 morning-line favorite is Turbo Speed, a gelding training at Penn National under Bernie Houghton. The son of Louis Quatorze won all three starts in 2009, including the Pennsylvania Nursery, and started his three-year old campaign with a stalking third in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct. David Cora retains the mount.

“The horse is doing just great,” said Houghton, who worked in the Maryland Jockey Club racing office from Nov. 1993-Mar. 2001. “We were thinking about going in the Whirlaway (at Aqueduct next Saturday), but that race is a mile and a sixteenth and we feel he might not be ready. We like the series of races you have for three-year-olds- six-furlongs (Dancing Count), seven (Miracle Wood on Feb. 27) and a mile (Private Terms on Mar. 20) – and we thought this was a way to educate him and move him out in distance.”

Trainer Chris Grove and Morumsco sit in waiting for the Pennsylvania shipper. The 3-1 second choice will carry J.D. Acosta, who rode him to two wins sandwiched between disappointments in the Maryland Million Nursery and Maryland Juvenile Championship. The speedy son of Not For Love has had the lead in all five of his starts.

Cole T (7-2) left the maiden ranks last time out here on Jan. 1, after finishing second in his first four starts. Harry Vega keeps the reins on the son of Desert Warrior for trainer John Salzman, Jr.

Gary Capuano will start Our Commander (4-1), who won the Maryland Juvenile Championship on Dec. 12 before finishing last in the Count Fleet.  The son of Tenpins is a perfect three-for-three at Laurel. Josean Ramirez regains the mount.

Lightly raced That’sthequestion (8-1) takes a step up after beating optional claimers at Charles Town. Julian Pimentel rides the son of Holy Bull for trainer Mike Trombetta.

Rounding out the field is Silver Pioneer (20-1), a maiden winner after six races at Charles Town. Erick Rodriguez will be aboard the son of Pioneering.

Along with live racing, fans can enjoy the added bonus of an indoor beach party. Sand, music, specials, drawings, games and drinks are part of the on-track promotion.

EDDIE C. SETS TRACK RECORD IN ALLOWANCE SCORE

Eddie C. set a track record for the about 1 1/16th distance with an impressive eight-length victory in Thursday’s seventh race at Laurel Park. The Chris Grove trainee completed the $34,000 optional allowance test in 1:43.06, just .06 faster than Kurbat (CHI) performed last February. The 8-year-old is now 12-of-30 lifetime with earnings of $338,180.