Laurel, MD (SportsNetwork.com) – Odds-on favorite Majestic Affair came flying
off the turn into the stretch and cruised to win Thursday’s $100,000 Frank
Whitely Jr. Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.
Originally scheduled for last Saturday, the seven-furlong stakes was moved to
Thursday with post positions redrawn. That proved to be beneficial for
Majestic Affair who was not initially entered by trainer Chad Brown.
Majestic Affair, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, broke from the far outside post
in the eight-horse field. The chestnut gelding sat just off the pace being set
by One More Time and Sizzling Quatorze.
Majestic Affair, owned by James Covello, Thomas Coleman and Doheny Racing
Stable, went wide around the final turn and took the lead heading into the
stretch. He promptly surged to the lead and quickly pulled away from the
field.
The gelding went on to post a seven-length win stopping the timer at 1:23.88
on a fast track.
Getting second was 27-1 longshot Measured with Notional Debt third and
Bodhisattva fourth followed by Mini Cosmo, Governmentshutdown, One More Time
and Sizzling Quatorze. Golden Years was an early scratch.
The Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes is the second straight win for Majestic Affair
and was worth $60,000. The 3-year-old has earned $184,000 with four wins from
six starts.
Majestic Affair won the Frank Capossela Stakes on Jan. 2 at Aqueduct by 5 3/4
lengths after getting second on Nov. 15 in Laurel’s James F. Lewis Stakes.
The gelding won his career debut last July at Canterbury Park, but five weeks
later, after being transferred to Brown, was eighth at 5-1 in the Saratoga
Special. He came back in October with an allowance victory at Parx Racing.
Majestic Affair returned $2.40, $2.40 and $2.10. Measured paid $11.40 and
$5.60, and Notional Debt paid $3.20 to show.
