Majestic Affair dominant in Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes

Majestic Affair lived up to his 1-5 odds in the $100,000 Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes at Laurel Park on Thursday, winning easily under jockey Kendrick Carmouche. Majestic Affair was not an original entrant in the Whiteley, which had been scheduled for last Saturday. But when that card was canceled and the race was redrawn, trainer Chad Brown decided to enter.

Majestic Affair was unhurried early while racing several lengths off the leaders. He moved up to challenge three wide on the turn of the seven-furlong race, drew clear under a hand ride in upper stretch, and pulled away to win by 5 3/4 lengths. Carmouche never hit Majestic Affair and wrapped up on him coming to the sixteenth pole. Longhots One More Time and Sizzling Quatorze set the early pace but tired in the stretch. Runner-up Measured rallied from well back to be five wide into the stretch. He finished a length in front of Notional Debt, who lodged his bid three wide on the far turn.

Majestic Affair was timed in 1:23.88 after fractions of 23.34 seconds, 47.66, and 1:11.53. He paid $2.40 to win. Majestic Affair, who had won the Fred Capossela Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 2, is now 3 for 6 with earnings of $184,000. He races for James Covello, Thomas Coleman, and the Doheny Racing Stable.

Marshua Stakes: Lindisfarne 2 for 2 at meet after beginning her career in Northern California, Lindisfarne is now 2 for 2 at Laurel Park after rallying from off the pace to win the $100,000 Marshua Stakes on Thursday. Lindisfarne broke alertly but was unhurried early by jockey Victor Carrasco in the six-furlong stakes. He sent her after the battling leaders – Eloquent Tribute and Comforter – on the far turn, and she took the lead three wide entering the stretch. Lindisfarne lugged in on several occasions in the stretch, but Carrasco straightened her each time, and she was able to hold off Lake Sebago by 1 1/2 lengths.

Lake Sebago, the second choice at 8-5, was last early but finished strongly to be going well late. She should appreciate the extra furlong of the seven-furlong Wide Country Stakes on Feb. 16. Comforter and 3-2 favorite Eloquent Tribute, who set fractions of 23.24 and 46.43 while well clear of the field, finished third and fourth.

Lindisfarne, who made her first three starts for Jerry Hollendorfer but is now trained by Rudy Rodriguez, paid $12.80 as the third choice in the seven-horse field. She was timed in 1:11.40. Lindisfarne won 1 of 3 starts in California before being sent east and is now 3 for 5 with earnings of $103,295. She has been owned by KMN Racing LLC throughout her career. In her first start at Laurel, Lindisfarne won a first-level optional-claiming race by 4 1/2 lengths. “Rudy called me before I rode her the first time and said she was nice, but she was a nervous filly,” Carrasco said. “I saw there was a lot of speed in today’s race, so I let her settle and then made a move.