Alwaysmining Scores Preakness Berth in Federico Tesio
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Photo: Jim McCue / Maryland Jockey Club
Alwaysmining wins the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park
Runnymede Racing's Alwaysmining passed another test when he romped home to his sixth consecutive win April 20 in the $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park, picking up an automatic berth to what would be his biggest challenge yet—the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
"As long as we come back OK," trainer Kelly Rubley said, "that's our goal."
The 3-year-old Stay Thirsty gelding tried two turns for the first time in his previous race, the March 16 Private Terms Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, and stretched to 1 1/8 miles Saturday. Alwaysmining has racked up his win streak while on the lead, but Saturday made a three-wide move from third to take the Tesio.
Jockey Daniel Centeno settled the 1-10 favorite on the rail while Bozzini led through fractions of :25.00 and :48.87, with Trifor Gold pressing the pace. Trifor Gold attempted to go with Alwaysmining when Centeno guided his mount off the rail in the turn for home, but the margin continued to widen. Alwaysmining went three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.97 before hitting the wire in 1:50.12, 11 1/2 lengths in front.
"The plan was to try to make the lead, but I didn't want to chase them, so I let them go," Centeno said. "I decided to take him back and put him behind them. He was comfortable, nice and relaxed. I put him on the outside on the backstretch, and when it was time to go, he took off.
"(The Preakness) will be a completely different game. I told Kelly he'll be completely relaxed. We don't need to put him on the lead. We can do whatever we want with him."
"Honestly, I was glad to see that he settled and he was able to relax," Rubley added. "It looked like it got a little tight, but Danny didn't really think it did. Somebody had to test us sooner or later. I'm glad we got it out of the way here, and I'm confident that he handles it well."
Trifor Gold, Bozzini, Dixie Drawl, and Tybalt completed the order of finish.
Alwaysmining was bred in Maryland by Avla Pitts and is the first stakes winner for his dam. He is out of the Anees mare What Will Be, who has produced four winners from five starters and foaled a Shackleford colt March 24.
Alwaysmining first sold for $32,000 at the 2017 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, with 3-D Bloodstock purchasing him from Hunter Valley Farm's consignment. He went through the ring again that year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Jim McIngvale bought him for $130,000 from Allied Bloodstock. Alwaysmining made four starts for McIngvale before he was privately purchased by Greg and Caroline Bentley's Runnymede Racing.
Before the Private Terms, Alwaysmining kicked off his season with a win in the Miracle Wood Stakes and ended his juvenile season with victories in the Heft Stakes and Maryland Juvenile Futurity. The Federico Tesio improved his record to 7-0-1 in 12 starts, with earnings of $386,192.
"You just hate to get overconfident, but this is what I had expected to happen, so I'm really glad it came true," Rubley said. "We're all very excited. It's a fabulous day."
The Federico Tesio was one of seven stakes on Laurel's Spring Stakes Spectacular card. The $125,000 Weber City Miss Stakes, about 1 1/16 miles, also offered an automatic berth for Preakness weekend. Wayne Harrison, Robert Manfuso, and trainer Katharine Voss's Las Setas secured her spot in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) after she battled on the lead throughout the Weber City Miss and came out on top by a nose.
"Obviously, if everything goes well, that's what we'd like to do next, but the water is much deeper there," Voss said. "If she got a piece of it—it's a Grade 2—we'd be happy."
The 3-year-old daughter of Seville scored her fourth straight win from five starts, following victories in the Beyond The Wire and Wide Country stakes. The time for the Weber City Miss was 1:44.79.
Other stakes on the card included the Frank Whiteley Jr., King T. Leatherbury on the turf, Primonetta for fillies and mares, Dahlia for fillies and mares on the turf, and Henry S. Clark on turf. Each carried a purse of $100,000.
Hillside Equestrian Meadow's Laki ended a third-place streak in the Frank Whiteley Jr. when he pressed Lewisfield on the pace, pulled ahead by 3 1/2 lengths, and completed six furlongs in 1:08.47.
Tom O'Grady's Dirty cleaned up when he scored his first stakes win in the King T. Leatherbury. Once in for a $40,000 tag, Dirty rallied to win by a neck, finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in a course-record 1:00.65.
Jim Reichenberg and Cash is King's Ms Locust Point led every step of the Primonetta and held on by a nose to win her ninth race in 16 starts. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.11. She won the Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G2) at Laurel in February 2018.
Madaket Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stable 5, and Bouchey Thoroughbred Ventures' Secret Message made her first start of the year count when she rallied to win the Dahlia by a nose. Also the winner of the Pucker Up Stakes (G3T), Secret Message completed the one-mile Dahlia in 1:35.25.
Isabelle de Tomaso's homebred Irish Strait, a half brother to multiple grade 2 winner Irish War Cry , won the Henry S. Clark, the last stake of the day. Irish Strait raced in second and got up by a neck, getting a mile in 1:33.94.