Hillside Equestrian Meadows’ Laki remaining undefeated on the dirt, capturing the Not For Love Stakes at Laurel on Saturday for his fourth consecutive visit to the winner’s circle following a last-place finish on the grass in his debut.
A 4-year-old son of Cuba, Laki covered the six-furlong distance in a quick 1:09.56 as the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven.
Nicaradalic Rocks set a relatively slow pace, clocking the opening quarter in :22.94, with Laki two lengths back in second and Jrock another 2 ½ lengths back in third.
After a half in :45.96, Nicaradalic Rocks was starting to back up and Laki was in full stride, zooming past the early pacesetter rounding for home and putting five lengths on the rest of the field. Laki led by a couple lengths at the 1/8-pole and held on to win comfortably by 1 ¾ lengths and pay $6.40, $3.80 and $3.00.
Sonny Inspired, racing wide and somewhat erratically in the stretch, ran on well to take second, returning $4.00 and $2.80, while Nicaradalic Rocks just held the hard-closing Blu Moon Ace at bay to grab the show spot and return $4.20.
The $2 exacta paid $27.00. The $2 trifecta was worth $220.80 and the $1 superfecta returned $443.00.
