Intriguing Maidens in MD Juvenile Futurity

A few intriguing maidens are part of a full field of 12 entered for the $125,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity Dec. 27 at Laurel Park.

The Futurity, at seven furlongs, is the eighth race on a nine-race Saturday program. Two-year-olds that are Maryland-bred and Maryland-sired will compete for the full $125,000; Maryland-bred runners not by Maryland sires will race for $100,000.

In his last two starts for trainer Tim Keefe, Dunbarton Stable's Stonebriar finished third in the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes Oct. 18 at Laurel and second, beaten a neck, in the Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes Nov. 16 at Parx Racing. The Two Punch gelding showed improved speed in the Elser Memorial at 6 1/2 furlongs and should be well-placed from post 11 with the extra sixteenth of a mile.

Sheldon Russell has a return call aboard Stonebriar at 115 pounds.

Howard Bender's Ghost Bay, trained by Lawrence Murray, has raced twice and picked up two third-place finishes in maiden special weight races at Laurel. The Ghostzapper   colt rallied from well back in those two six-furlong events and should appreciate the extra furlong in the Futurity.

Forest Boyce, who rode Ghost Bay in his two starts, is named to ride again and has other mounts on the Saturday card. Boyce in November shifted her base to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots but said she would return to Maryland on occasion.