Regia Marina goes for Laurel Park crown

Well-travelled mare Regia Marina heads to Laurel Park, USA, on Saturday, February 18, in search of a first Pattern success in the G2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (16.30hrs local time) over seven furlongs on dirt.

The Eoin Harty-trained five-year-old has raced at a variety of courses over the past year, most recently when the comfortable winner of the six-furlong Listed Mahoning Distaff Stakes on dirt at Mahoning Valley on November 21.

The daughter of Medaglia d´Oro had previously made two Graded race appearances on Tapeta, finishing a close sixth in the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters over an extended six furlongs in September and dead-heating for third in the seven-furlong G3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine, Canada, in August.

Trevor McCarthy comes in for the ride on Regia Marina, who breaks from stall four of eight, with G1 winner By The Moon, G3 second High Ridge Road and last year’s runner-up Clothes Fall Off the main rivals.

Eoin Harty commented: “Regia Marina is in top form at the moment. This is quite a step up from her last race and it looks a contentious bunch but she couldn’t be training any better.

“She is a big, beautiful filly with a great temperament and she has been everywhere.

“She has never disappointed on the racecourse and she is like that in the mornings - she never wants to let you down.

“Seven furlongs is the ideal trip for her and I hope that we can get a piece of the pie.”