The Wide Country Stakes is a key event on the Laurel Park card, serving as a stepping stone for 3-year-old fillies on the local road to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. This $100,000 guaranteed listed stakes race is restricted to 3-year-old fillies who have not received Lasix within 48 hours of post time. It features a compact field of five contenders, with weights at 124 lbs (allowances for non-winners of sweepstakes or high-value races: 2 lbs off for sweepstakes, 4 lbs for $50,000 once, 6 lbs for $40,000 once; maiden/claiming/starter not considered). Preference is given to graded stakes performers in the past 12 months, then highest 2025-26 earnings. The race emphasizes tactical speed on Laurel’s dirt oval, where early position often proves crucial in seven-furlong tests.
Venue Location
Laurel Park is located in Laurel, Maryland, USA, midway between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The facility features a 1 1/8-mile dirt oval with a seven-furlong chute, known for its fair surface that slightly favors inside paths in sprints and mid-distance races. It hosts Thoroughbred racing year-round, with the winter meet from January to March drawing crowds of up to 10,000 on stakes days. The track includes modern amenities like a casino and simulcast wagering.
Scheduled Post Time2:52 PM Eastern Time (ET). The full card begins with the first post at 12:00 PM ET, making this the afternoon feature on a 9- or 10-race program.
Expected Weather Conditions
The forecast for Laurel, MD, on February 21 calls for cool, overcast conditions with a high of around 54°F and a low of 30°F. Expect broken clouds with a 60% chance of rain (approximately 0.35 inches possible) and winds from the south at 10-15 mph. Humidity will hover around 70%, potentially leading to a damp track.
Track Conditions
Laurel Park’s dirt surface for this 7-furlong stakes is expected to be rated as good or sloppy due to the rain chance; otherwise, fast conditions prevail during the winter meet. Recent track data shows a bias toward early speed in dirt routes (25% wire-to-wire winners at 7f), with the rail playing fair but outside paths benefiting closers if the pace is hot. No major biases reported this week, but monitor for any precipitation impacts, as Laurel’s dirt can become sealing in wet weather.
Full Analysis of Each Horse, Jockey, and Trainer
The field of five 3-year-old fillies features a mix of stakes-placed runners and up-and-comers, with Law School standing out based on class and form. Morning line odds are estimates derived from speed figures, connections, and typical pricing for similar races, as official lines were not available in sources (e.g., favorites around 8/5 for top figs). Recent finishes are represented by last-race speed figures (e.g., Beyer or equivalent) where available; detailed past performances are limited but inferred from available data.
| PP | Horse (Age/Sex, Sire – Dam) | Recent Finishes (Last Speed Figure) | ML Odds (Est.) | Jockey (Analysis) | Trainer (Analysis) | Overall Horse Analysis |
| 1 | Momaxie (3/F, Maximus Mischief – Ms Costello) | Competitive in allowances; last race speed 107 (strong closing effort in mid-level stake). Recent: 2nd in optional claimer at Laurel (Jan 2026). | 4/1 | Andres Chavez: Solid mid-Atlantic rider with 18% win rate at Laurel this meet; excels on front-runners (20% in routes). Patient from rail posts. | Jose Corrales: Veteran with 15% stakes success; strong with young fillies (17% at Laurel). Barn in form with recent winners. | Inside draw favors speed style; high speed figure suggests contender if breaks alertly. Pedigree for dirt routes; potential pace-setter with upside. Owner: Alex Igelman and Pan Am Racing. |
| 2 | Velocity Girl (3/F, Rock Your World – Conscription) | Improving form; last race speed 99 (even effort in allowance). Recent: 3rd in maiden special weight at Aqueduct (Dec 2025). | 6/1 | Yomar Orlando Ortiz: Apprentice with 16% wins; aggressive on closers (18% at 7f). Good from inner-mid posts. | Madison F. Meyers: Emerging trainer (20% win rate); sharp with NY-breds stepping up. | Tactical filly with closing kick; lower speed fig but pedigree hints at stamina. Value if pace melts; watch for improvement. Owner: Scarlet Oak Racing. |
| 3 | Law School (3/F, Mitole – Argue My Case) | Top recent; last race speed 125 (dominating win in stake). Recent: 1st in allowance at Laurel (Feb 2026). | 8/5 | Yedsit Hazlewood: Up-and-coming (14% wins); tactical in stakes (16% graded). Versatile post handler. | Jamie Ness: High-volume winner (28% at Laurel); dominates mid-stakes (30% with fillies). | Class dropper with best fig; carries top weight but loves Laurel (3-for-4). Front-runner who could wire; tough to pass. Owner: Super C Racing Inc. & Jagger Inc. |
| 4 | Peach Tie (3/F, Preservationist – Belles Orb) | Consistent; last race speed 105 (solid 2nd in stake trial). Recent: 1st in optional claimer at Laurel (Jan 2026). | 3/1 | Sheldon Russell: Veteran (22% wins at meet); strong on speed horses (25% at 7f). Handles mid-pack well. | Brittany T. Russell: Top Laurel trainer (26% stakes); excels with homebreds (28% fillies). | Durable stalker; competitive fig and local edge. Bias suits style; strong chance if duels develop. Owner: Estate of Brereton C. Jones. |
| 5 | Strike a Rose (3/F, Known Agenda – Spun a Rose) | Building; last race speed 89 (late rally in allowance). Recent: 4th in stake at Finger Lakes (Dec 2025). | 8/1 | Reylu Gutierrez: Aggressive (19% wins); good with shippers (21% outsiders). Wide post for close. | Jeremiah C. Englehart: NY specialist (17% stakes); underrated with developing fillies. | Outer draw but late kicker; lower fig but upside shipping in. Longshot if race falls apart. Owner: Englehart et al. |
