Shackled Love Wins Private Terms, Littlestitious Shines

ZWP Stable and Non Stop Stable's homebred Shackled Love pressed Maythehorsebwithu from the gate, forged a narrow lead in mid-stretch, and dug in gamely when the even-money favorite surged again near the wire to spring a 21-1 upset March 13 of the $100,000 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park.

The Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles is the second step in Laurel's series of stakes for 3-year-olds following the one-mile Miracle Wood Feb. 20 and preceding the 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio April 17, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 15 at Pimlico Race Course.

A gelded bay son of 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford, Shackled Love ($45.60) completed the distance in 1:43.56 over a fast main track to become a stakes winner in his first try. It was also the first career stakes win for rider Charlie Marquez, Maryland's leading apprentice of 2020 who turned 18 Jan. 25.

"I'm just so excited. I'd like to thank the trainers and owners and everybody that's gotten me here from when I first started," Marquez said. "I'm lost for words. I don't really know what to say."

Shackled Love was a late addition to the Private Terms field, having been entered for a race March 12 before the program was canceled as a precaution after a horse at Laurel tested positive for EHV-1. Trainer Gary Capuano also saddled in the Private Terms stakes winner Shackqueenking, another son of Shackleford.

"He ran such a game race last time out and he ran a pretty decent number. He's got some staying power, so we thought we'd take a shot," Capuano said. "He drew a good post and there was nothing coming up right away. He's got some talent."

Maythehorsebwithu, a four-length winner of the Miracle Wood trying two turns for the first time, got out quickly and assumed the lead from post 2, going the opening quarter-mile in :23.97 and the half in :47.55 with Shackled Love at his right hip. Shackqueenking ranged up into a contending spot in third around the turn racing on the far outside but was unable to keep up with the top two as they straightened for home.

"I expected to be close. The inside, Sheldon Russell (on Maythehorsebwithu), I thought he was going to be close and I thought my outside had a little bit of pace," Marquez said. "We were walking up front, so I wanted to push the pace a little bit and give my horse the confidence that he needed."

Shackled Love stuck a head in front at the top of the stretch but Maythehorsebwithu was stubborn on the inside and came back for more, grudgingly giving way in the final yards. It was two lengths back to Excellorator in third, with Shackqueenking fourth by another length.

Zertz, Royal Number, and Commodore Perry completed the order of finish.

"The race kind of set up the way we thought. We thought Sheldon on the inside was going to show some speed, and we had speed. It was just (Zertz), we didn't know what he was going to do," Capuano said. "We thought that the pace would set up just about like that. Shackqueenking had a good shot turning for home and he just kind of hung. The other two just kind of kicked on."

Shackled Love broke his maiden on debut last fall at Delaware Park but had lost his last four races, all at Laurel, beaten in separate entry-level optional claiming starts in December and January by Maythehorsebwithu and Royal Number. The Tesio in five weeks is a likely landing spot.

"I think so," Capuano said. "As long as he comes back good, we'll try that."

Bred in Maryland out of the Not For Love mare Steady N Love, Shackled Love improved his record to two wins and two seconds from six starts, with earnings of $117,132.

Littlestitious Lands Beyond The Wire

Joel Politi's Littlestitious came with a steady run down the center of the stretch to catch Fraudulent Charge inside the sixteenth pole and edge clear to a half-length victory in the $99,000 Beyond The Wire Stakes Saturday at Laurel.

The one-mile Beyond The Wire for 3-year-old fillies was the first of five stakes worth $450,000 in purses on a nine-race program, headlined by the Private Terms.

Ridden by Sheldon Russell for trainer Tom Amoss, Littlestitious ($10.20) completed the distance in 1:36.75 over a fast main track to earn her second career stakes victory following the Dec. 1 My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs to cap her juvenile season.

This year, the bay daughter of Ghostzapper  ran fifth in the Jan. 16 Silverbulletday Stakes and fourth behind Clairiere and Travel Column—two of this year's top prospects on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks—in the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"The division down in New Orleans is about as good as anywhere. If you look at the (Kentucky) Oaks (G1), those are the top two fillies on a lot of people's lists," Politi said. "We didn't want to beat our heads against them again, so this was a good opportunity for her to stretch her legs a little bit."

Littlestitious broke sharply but settled in third as Street Lute and Fraudulent Charge hooked up on the lead. A winner of six career stakes including five in a row, and favored at 3-5 in her first try beyond seven furlongs, Street Lute went a quarter-mile in :24.71 and a half in :47.71 with Fraudulent Charge glued to her right hip.

Fraudulent Charge, second to Street Lute in the Dec. 26 Gin Talking Stakes and Feb. 20 Wide Country Stakes in back-to-back starts, forged a short lead entering the stretch after going six furlongs in 1:11.64 while Littlestitious began to roll on the far outside. Russell set his filly down for a drive once straightened for home and kept her to task.

"She's a fighter and she's fought in all of her races. Sheldon rode her just unbelievably well and positioned her down the stretch," Politi said. "I had a feeling in mid-stretch that she was going to get there, but she definitely had to earn that."

Fraudulent Charge was second for the third straight race, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Street Lute in third. Journeytothemoon and Buckey's Charm completed the order of finish.

"We live in Columbus, Ohio, and we made the trip out today to be here. Winning a race here at a track I came to as a little kid is just a highlight for me," Politi said. "Where we go from here, I have no idea yet. Tom and I will talk later, but this is great."

Littlestitious was bred in Kentucky by Mercedes Stables out of the Quality Road  mare Broadway Play, and was a $190,000 purchase by Politi from Burleson Farms' consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She improved her record to 3-2-1 from eight starts, with earnings of $204,340.

Founded in 2017, Beyond The Wire is an industry-wide initiative between the Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and Maryland jockeys designed to facilitate safe and enriching placements for retired Maryland-based racehorses.

Video: Private Terms S. (BT)

Video: Beyond The Wire S. (BT)