Executing a well-timed turn of foot like a seasoned professional, Laurelin (Zarak {Fr}) ran to her odds and in the process swept up the Penn Oaks at dusk.
The chestnut came in as a deserving favorite, since her record was without blemish. After breaking her maiden at first asking during the Belmont At The Big A meet last October, the filly picked up the Tepin Stakes at the Big A in mid-November. Turned out for the winter, Laurelin returned to Ozone Park and promptly took home the Memories of Silver Stakes Apr. 27.
With four scratches and the field down to five, the Graham Motion trainee was slammed at the windows to the tune of 60 cents on the dollar here. The 3-year-old broke from the outside gate and set up shop towards the rear as a longshot tried the pillar to post method. Laurelin knew what game was afoot and her middle move up the backstretch put her in good stead into the far turn. With a sweeping three wide tip, the chestnut began to turn up the pressure on new leader Candy Quest (Connect) in the final stages. Laurelin shifted into high gear and asserted her authority like the black-type winner she has become.
The winner's dam last registered foal is a current 2-year-old colt by Space Blues (Ire). Bari claims six foals, three to race and has tallied a trio of winners, including Maud Gonne Spirit (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) who captured an Irish listed race. As for Bari's immediate family, her half-sister is English stakes winner Brindisi (GB) (Dr Fong) and the dam of G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling). Digging a little deeper into Laurelin's extended female line, we find G1 Investec Epsom Oaks heroine Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
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PENN OAKS, $150,000, Penn National, 6-27, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.54, yl.
1–LAURELIN (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: Bari (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Yawl (GB), by Rainbow Quest
(€160,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Newstead Stables LLC; B-M. H. Dixon & Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Jose G. Ruiz. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $296,250.
2–Candy Quest, 118, f, 3, Connect–Candy Crush, by Candy Ride (Arg). ($225,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Glassman Racing; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Reining Flowers, 122, f, 3, Midnight Storm–Mi Fiori, by Congrats. O/B-4G Racing LLC (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $16,500.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, HF. Odds: 0.60, 3.40, 7.90.
Also Ran: Bessie Abott (Ire), Pure Majestic. Scratched: Accent (GB), Love You Anyway, Love and Poetry, Midway Memories.
LAURELIN (IRE) ($3.20) keeps her undefeated record intact while winning the $150,000 Penn Oaks at @HollywoodPenn. Jose G. Ruiz was on board the 3YO. The filly by Zarak (Fr) (@AgaKhanStuds) is conditioned by @GrahamMotion.
It's time for the Penn Mile: https://t.co/EpTihNew82 pic.twitter.com/IrfTbgyGKN
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 27, 2025
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