Laki Moves to Top of MATCH Series Overall Standings

When the stewards disqualified Lewisfield from first for interference in the stretch and awarded close-second Laki the victory in the Polynesian Stakes Aug. 12 at Laurel Park, it not only affected the outcome of that $100,000 race but also the standings in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships.

With the win, Hillside Equestrian Meadows' Laki moves into first place in the MATCH Series overall standings with 23 points, one point ahead of both Page McKenney and Oak Bluffs. 

Trained by Damon Dilodovico, Laki also ranks first in the 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt Division after Lewisfield entered the week atop that division. Laki has now competed in the first four legs of the division, and thus picked up five points along with 10 for his first-place finish in the Polynesian. He already had eight, so that gives him 23.

Dilodovico said Laki, in sticking with the MATCH Series, has been racing about once a month because he's been training well and doing the right things. 

"But I can tell you, it's still grueling. I think having the home-court advantage here definitely helps," Dilodovico said. "It's better coming out of your own bed."

Dilodovico said the De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G3), the final race in the dirt sprint division Sept. 15 at Laurel, is a target for Laki. It could be a rematch with Lewisfield.

"We'll see how he's doing," the trainer said. "Lewisfield could very well be favored in that race."

Points leaders

*=horse has competed in enough MATCH Series races to be eligible for bonus money

Rank    Horse    Points

Overall division leaders

1.  Laki*    23

2T.  Page McKenney*    22

2T.  Oak Bluffs*    22

4.  Imprimis    20

5T.  Lewisfield*    19

5T.  Pool Winner*    19

3-Year-Olds and Up, Long—Dirt Division

1.  Page McKenney*    22

2T.  Harlan Punch    10

2T.  Name Changer    10

4T.  Shaft of Light    7

4T.  Zanotti    7

3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies and Mares Sprint—Dirt Division

1.  Jessica Krupnick    17

2T.  Vertical Oak    10

2T.  Chalon    10

4T.  Startwithsilver    8

4T.  Liz's Cable Girl    8

3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Turf Division

1.  Oak Bluffs*    22

2T.  Imprimis    20

2T.  Pool Winner*    19

4.  Dubini*    12

5.  Vision Perfect

3-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares Sprint—Turf Division

1.  Smiling Causeway    12

2T.  Girls Know Best    10

2T.  Morticia    10

2T.  Pretty Perfection    10

5T.  Rocky Policy    7

5T.  Blue Bahia    7

3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt Division

1.  Laki*    23

2.  Lewisfield*    19

3.  Chublicious    11

4T.  Always Sunshine    10

4T.  Switzerland    10