Pimlico Racecourse 2005 Spring Meet

'Moon' Shines on Great Day at Pimlico
By Amanda Saunders

While the skies threatened to open up and drench Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, five stakes races with $650,000 in total purses went off without a single drop falling; though the old track was not found wanting when it came to drama.

The first on the card, the $100,000 Country Life Farm stakes, the favorite Only in Philly took the lead at the half and never looked back, cruising to an easy six and a half length win in a time of 1:48.06 for the mile and a sixteenth. Local favorite Hear Us Roar was second with Lucky Slevin, Rudbeckia, Magical Broad, and Cape Cosmo rounding out the field. Only in Philly, a three-year-old filly by Polish Numbers, is now three for six with $83,180 in earnings.

The second stakes on the card, the $100,000 Northview Stallion Station Stakes, featured Maryland favorite Silmaril, who seems to rarely do wrong. However, she was not the bettor's favorite, He Loves Me held that honor after three straight graded stakes appearances. At the break, Chrusciki took the lead while Silmaril stalked in third with He Loves Me at the back of the pack in fifth. At the top of the stretch, Silmaril launched from seven lengths back to a length in front in barely a furlong's distance, driving to a length and a half win over a game Grant's Moon with Chrusciki, He Loves Me, and Jennaslilprincess following. Silmaril, a four-year-old Maryland-bred daughter of Diamond, now has eight wins in thirteen starts with $347,110 in earnings.

In the third stakes race, the $100,000 Maryland Stallion Station Stakes, the three-year-old Yarrow Brae gelding Celtic Innis surprised with a three-quarter length win over Mojodajo and Monster Chaser finished a driving third. Rounding out the field was Maddy's Lion, It's Time to Smile, Late Night Lover, and Sarah's Prospect. Celtic Innis is now three for six lifetime with $99,090 in earnings.

The $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes was next, a prep race for the G1 Kentucky Derby. Malibu Moonshine was coming off a win in the Private Terms Stakes, but it was Byanosejoe who was the bettor's favorite after a length and half loss in the G3 Gotham. At the break, Hello Jerry took the lead and set a moderate pace while Malibu Moonshine stalked in mid-pack. At the top of the stretch, Malibu Moonshine drifted to the outside and drove to a hard-fought three-quarter length win over Hello Jerry with Byanosejoe, Watchmon, Super Eight Track, and Legal Control rounding out the field. The son of Malbu Moon is now six for ten lifetime with $190,280 in earnings.

The last race went off with everyone on eggshells. The skies were getting darker by the minute and rain bands could be seen in the distance. Classic Endeavor was made the favorite despite an eighth place finish in the G2 Gulfstream Park Handicap against Eddington, but it was the lightly raced Presidential Affair, who hasn't raced since his romp in the 2004 Maryland Million Classic, who would lead the field in an impressive wire-to-wire win...romping by an easy seven and a half lengths. Classic Endeavor finished second with Hydrogen, Cherokee Rap, and Lusty Latin following behind. Presidential Affiar, a six-year-old gelding by Not For Love, is now ten for twenty-two with $600,970 in earnings.

It was then that the skies finally opened up and let loose the rain.