Cordmaker Clinches MATCH Series Title in Manfuso
Image:
Description:
Photo: Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club
Cordmaker wins the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes at Laurel Park
In a fitting end to his 6-year-old season, Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker paid tribute to his breeder by earning his 12th career victory and eighth against stakes company Dec. 26 in the $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso Stakes at Laurel Park.
The inaugural Manfuso for 3-year-olds and up going about 1 1/16 miles and the return of the 1 1/8-mile Carousel for fillies and mares 3 and older, which carried grade 3 status from 1988 through 1997 and was last run in 2002 at Laurel, were among six $100,000 stakes on a nine-race program Sunday.
Cordmaker (the 6-5 favorite) was bred in Maryland by Robert T. Manfuso and his life partner, Laurel-based trainer Katharine M. Voss, who presented the winner's trophy to the connections, including Hillwood's Ellen Charles, trainer Rodney Jenkins, and regular rider Victor Carrasco.
A longtime owner and breeder and former owner of both Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course who was instrumental in revitalizing Maryland racing, Manfuso passed away in March 2020.
"We've all been talking about it for about a week. I'm glad we were able to get it done," trainer Rodney Jenkins said. "It was nice. He's such a good horse."
A gelded son of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin , Cordmaker won for the third time in four starts—all in stakes—and clinched the older male long dirt division and overall MATCH Series titles.
Breaking from the rail in a field that scratched down to six, Cordmaker settled in fourth as multiple stakes winner Alwaysmining took the lead and held it through a quarter-mile in :23.47 seconds and a half-mile in :47.38 pressed by Workin On a Dream , who finished second to Cordmaker in the Richard W. Small Stakes Nov. 27 at Laurel.
Carrasco tipped Cordmaker out leaving the far turn and set his sights on 3-2 second choice Shackqueenking , who had inherited the lead after Alwaysmining began to fade. Cordmaker straightened out, powered past Shackqueenking and opened up for a 3 1/2-length victory. Workin On a Dream edged Shackqueenking by a half-length for second, with Plot the Dots a nose better than McElmore Avenue in fourth.
"Naturally he drew the one hole of all days, but he figured it out," Jenkins said. "He got around that turn and saved some ground there, and then when they straightened out and Victor asked him, I think he won as easy as he's won any race in his life."
Cordmaker has finished third or better 23 times in 34 career starts including 12 wins, in earning $794,640 in purses. He is 17-for-26 in the money at Laurel, his home track, with other stakes wins in the 2018 Jennings Stakes, 2019 Polynesian Stakes, and 2019 and 2021 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes, and last month's Richard W. Small Stakes. He also won the Aug. 23 Victory Gallop Stakes at Colonial Downs and 2019 DTHA Governors Day Handicap at Delaware Park, and was third in the 2019 and 2020 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
Other winners on the day included Buy the Best in the Gin Talking Stakes, Shake Em Loose in the Heft Stakes, Kaylasaurus in the Willa On the Move Stakes, Threes Over Deuces in the Dave's Friend Stakes, and Miss Leslie in the Carousel Stakes.
Video: Gin Talking S. (BT)
Video: Heft S. (BT)
Video: Willa On the Move S. (BT)
Video: Dave's Friend S. (BT)
Video: Carousel S. (BT)