Laurel: Mavilus will make season bow on Friday * The Racing Biz

Laurel: Mavilus will make season bow on Friday

Press Release
February 9, 2023

Michael Scheffres’ Mavilus, popular winner of the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap last fall, is entered to make her 5-year-old debut Friday against six rivals as live racing returns to Laurel Park.

Trained by Carlos Mancilla, Mavilus takes a two-race win streak into Friday’s eighth, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares 4 and up sprinting seven furlongs. She has been third or better in 23 of 35 starts with eight wins, four since being claimed for $5,000 last January.

The narrow 3-1 program favorite is Brereton Jones’ Skipper Sue, an 11-length debut winner over elders in an off-the-turf maiden special weight sprint last October. The 4-year-old Cairo Prince filly was second going seven furlongs and third sprinting 5 ½ furlongs in a back-to-back allowances, the latter Jan. 1, both by less than two lengths.

Nine races are also on tap Saturday, highlighted by back-to-back optional claiming allowances sprinting six furlongs in Races 7-8. Among the seven entered in Race 7, for 4-year-olds and up, are multiple stakes-placed Al Loves Josie and 9-year-old Union Rags gelding Sevier, a winner of 26 of 64 lifetime starts including two straight, both at Laurel, Jan. 14 and Dec. 17.

Race 8 also drew seven horses including Tappin Josie, racing first off the claim for trainer Horacio DePaz after winning a 5 ½-furlong sprint Jan. 20 at Laurel; fellow 124-pound topweight Stryda, exiting a 7 ½-length maiden special weight win over fellow West Virginia-breds Jan. 6 at Charles Town; and Happy Clouds, riding a two-race win streak.