Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) issued a well-timed move down the lane to stroll home in the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday afternoon.
The Goffs September Yearling Sale grad who was picked out by Form Bloodstock donned cap and gown by 1 1/2 lengths on debut during the Belmont At The Big meet Oct. 13. Trainer Graham Motion then sent the filly into the Tepin Stakes over the same turf course Nov. 17 and the chestnut visited the winner's circle again. Taking a break, the 3-year-old went off as the 2-1 second choice behind Virgin Colada (More Than Ready).
Laurelin was up on the pace heading into the first turn as Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) set the tone. Relaxed and settled up the backstretch, the filly began to get into gear around the far turn and she began to target the leader at the top of the lane. With a strong turn of foot, she sailed towards the wire and won the day.
“That was very cool,” said trainer Graham Motion. “She's just a stone-cold runner this filly. I really wasn't sure if she was fit enough today, but I wanted to get her started in this race because she does so well at Aqueduct and Kendrick [Carmouche] gets along so well with her.”
On a potential start in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June or the GII Wonder Again Stakes June 7, Motion said, “I think everything is on the table at this point. I will nominate her to the Coronation in Ascot in June. But there's so many nice races for 3-year-old fillies over here as well, so we have a lot of options. The one thing I'll say is I won't be in a hurry to run her back, I thought she ran a big race today.”
Bari's most recent registered foal is a colt by Space Blues (Ire) who is currently a 2-year-old. The winner claims as a half-sister Irish stakes winner Maud Gonne Spirit (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) and her extended female family includes G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling).
MEMORIES OF SILVER S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 4-27, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:38.68, gd.
1–LAURELIN (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: Bari (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Yawl (GB), by Rainbow Quest
(€160,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Newstead Stables LLC; B-M. H. Dixon & Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $206,250.
2–Opulent Restraint (Ire), 122, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Significant Form, by Creative Cause. O-Stephanie Seymour Brant; B-White Birch Farm Sc (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
3–Virgin Colada, 118, f, 3, More Than Ready–Episcopal, by Carpe Diem. ($275,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG; $110,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Resolute Racing; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $18,000.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.45, 4.10, 1.40.
Also Ran: Candy Quest, Italian Soiree, Burner Account, Icona Mama. Scratched: Bernieandtherose, Love Cervere, Shesinamood.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Undefeated! LAURELIN is now 3 for 3 after her win in the Memories Of Silver Stakes with @KendrickCarmou1 aboard for trainer @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/mN8COrxYH4
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) April 27, 2025
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