Horse Racing Nation has designated Sneaky Good, owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Weather Vane Stakes. This six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is scheduled for Saturday at Laurel Park.
The Weather Vane is the ninth event in a 10-race program starting at noon ET and features two “Value Pick 5” betting opportunities, each with a low 12 percent takeout rate.
Under the guidance of trainer Brad Cox, Sneaky Good finished undefeated in two starts last year, including a win in the Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Since then, this Into Mischief filly has competed exclusively in stakes races and earned three placings in graded stakes. In her latest effort, the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga on July 10, Sneaky Good recovered from a stumble at the start to finish fourth. She comes from a strong family line with her dam, Gale, having won the Geisha Stakes for Maryland-breds in 2021. Jaime Rodriguez will pilot Sneaky Good from post position 4.
D. J. Stable’s French Friction, trained by Mark Casse, arrives from Kentucky as a speedy contender. By City of Light, she won her first two races by nearly 12 lengths combined but struggled in subsequent graded stakes. Returning after a three-month break, she placed second in a top-level allowance turf race at Ellis Park on August 8. Sheldon Russell will ride French Friction from the inside post 1, with morning-line odds of 7-2.
Eric Rizer’s Slewperstitus, the defending champion of last year’s Maryland Million Lassie, represents the home team for trainer Robbie Bailes. The Great Notion filly has an impeccable record of never finishing off the board in 11 starts and recently took second in a second-level allowance at Colonial Downs on August 27. Jevian Toledo will ride her from post 6 with 5-2 odds.
Red White and Blue Racing and London Reid Thoroughbreds’ Just Philtored, a frequent rival of Slewperstitus, will face off once again. Also by Great Notion, Just Philtored claimed three stakes last year, including the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes at Laurel. Her most recent start resulted in a fourth-place finish in a restricted turf handicap at Colonial Downs on August 29. Trainer Michael Trombetta, who notes that she may perform slightly better on dirt than turf, expressed optimism about her chances facing fellow 3-year-olds while reflecting on her strong form last season. Jorge Ruiz will take the reins from post 2; the filly’s morning line is 10-1.
Nazario Racing Stable and Heart’s Desire Farm’s For the Ladies is coming off three consecutive wins, including an impressive victory in Timonium’s Shine Again Stakes three weeks ago. With jockey Raul Mena aboard, she rallied from behind to secure trainer Pedro Nazario’s first stakes win. Claimed for $25,000 after winning at Delaware Park on July 25, For the Ladies returned three weeks later to win a starter allowance, showing great form. Mena will continue riding from post 5, where she is listed at 15-1 odds.
Mag Racing Stable’s Embrace the Moment delivered a wire-to-wire win in a second-level allowance at Timonium on August 30. Trainer Greg Compton praised the filly’s running style and physical attributes, highlighting her large stride and ability to settle in from the outside post 8. After winning her debut at Delaware last year and a sixth-place finish in the G3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs, Embrace the Moment recovered from a minor ankle chip and has since been training well. Vincent Cheminaud will be the jockey, with morning line odds of 4-1.
Completing the field are stakes-placed Late Night Text and Celtic Harp.
The Weather Vane Stakes honors the Maryland-bred mare Weather Vane, who won 17 races and accrued $724,532 in earnings from 1996 to 1998. During her career, she notched 14 stakes victories, including the Grade 3 Safely Kept in 1997, and was named the Maryland-bred champion older female of 1998.
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on September 17, 2026, in their News section.
Fan Take: This race gathers some of the most promising young fillies, showcasing emerging talent that could shape the sport’s future. For horse racing fans, the Weather Vane Stakes offers a thrilling glimpse of potential stars and signals the continued vitality of stakes competition at Laurel Park.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
