Moiety returns in Barbara Fritchie

Ultra-consistent mare Moiety gets her five-year-old campaign started in the G2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes over seven furlongs on dirt at Laurel Park, USA, on Saturday, 17 February. 

The daughter of Bernardini, trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Elvis Trujillo for the first time, flew home after missing the break for a remarkable victory in the non-Graded Mahoning Distaff over six furlongs on dirt at Mahoning Valley on her latest appearance on 20 November. 

Moiety has finished first or second on nine of her 10 starts, with three victories over six and a half furlongs to add to her success at Mahoning Valley, with her only disappointing run coming over a mile in the G2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs, also in November. 

Drawn seven, she takes on 10 fillies and mares headed by Highway Star, a dual G2 winner at Belmont Park who was beaten a head in last year’s G1 Ballerina Stakes.

Eoin Harty explained: “Moiety has been off for the best part of three months, but is doing super. I put some serious pieces of work into her during January and I expect her to be fit and tight for this race. 

“She showed a whole different dimension in the Mahoning Distaff, when she came from the clouds, and I hope that she do the same again. 

“Moiety was fresh when she ran in the Chilukki Stakes, when she hung in there as long as she could before coming up short in the straight. 

“I think a mile stretched her that day and seven furlongs suits her better, particularly if she can race off the pace.”

Elsewhere on Saturday’s card at Laurel Park, another five-year-old Bernardini mare, Felini (Kiaran McLaughlin/Kendrick Carmouche), steps up to non-Graded company for the first time in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes over an extended mile on dirt.