Majestic Affair rumbles to victory in Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Laurel, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Odds-on favorite Majestic Affair came flying off the turn into the stretch and cruised to win Thursday's $100,000 Frank Whitely Jr. Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.

Originally scheduled for last Saturday, the seven-furlong stakes was moved to Thursday with post positions redrawn. That proved to be beneficial for Majestic Affair who was not initially entered by trainer Chad Brown.

Majestic Affair, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, broke from the far outside post in the eight-horse field. The 1-5 favorite sat just off the pace being set by One More Time and Sizzling Quatorze.

Majestic Affair, owned by James Covello, Thomas Coleman and Doheny Racing Stable, went wide around the final turn and took the lead heading into the stretch. He promptly surged to the lead and quickly pulled away from the field.

The gelding went on to post a 5 3/4-length win stopping the timer at 1:23.88 on a fast track.

"He's not a very big horse but he's got a big stride and he gets over just about any surface he's been on without any problems," Carmouche said. "Chad trains most of his horses to go long and I don't think this horse would have any problem going further. He won today in very easy fashion."

Getting second was 27-1 longshot Measured with Notional Debt third and Bodhisattva fourth followed by Mini Cosmo, Governmentshutdown, One More Time and Sizzling Quatorze. Golden Years was an early scratch.

The Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes is the second straight win for Majestic Affair and was worth $60,000. The 3-year-old has earned $184,000 with four wins from six starts.

"I'm really grateful that I have been able to travel with this horse for his last four races," added Carmouche. "He seems like he's really starting to get good now. I thought be might be a little closer today coming off six furlongs but I had plenty of horse the entire way and when I asked him he just went about his business."

Majestic Affair won the Frank Capossela Stakes on Jan. 2 at Aqueduct by 5 3/4 lengths after getting second on Nov. 15 in Laurel's James F. Lewis Stakes.

The gelding won his career debut last July at Canterbury Park, but five weeks later, after being transferred to Brown, was eighth at 5-1 in the Saratoga Special. He came back in October with an allowance victory at Parx Racing.

Majestic Affair returned $2.40, $2.40 and $2.10. Measured paid $11.40 and $5.60, and Notional Debt paid $3.20 to show.