After more than six months away from the races, Live Oak Plantation’s Ultimate Love is set to make her eagerly anticipated seasonal return when she lines up in Friday’s $125,000 Hilltop Stakes at Laurel Park. The Michael Trombetta-trained filly heads a compact but talented field of seven in the one-mile turf contest for three-year-old fillies.
Laurel Park Hilltop Stakes 2026.
Ultimate Love has not been seen since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar in October, where she was beaten three lengths after going off favourite. Despite the defeat, connections remain encouraged by the effort against elite international opposition.
Trainer Michael Trombetta reflected positively on the run while acknowledging the level of competition she faced.
“She ran pretty well,” Trombetta said. “She just didn’t run good enough to beat the top horses in the world.”
As a juvenile, Ultimate Love quickly established herself among the leading turf fillies of her generation. She won her first three starts, including the Listed Selima Stakes at Laurel Park, before taking her chance on championship weekend at Del Mar. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez has been booked for Friday’s return.
Trombetta explained that the decision to give the filly time away from racing was made shortly after the Breeders’ Cup.
“That was the plan, to try and do what we could and then give her a little breather and get ready for spring,” he said. “These two-year-olds that run like she did early on and train through the year, you’ve got to pick a time to give them a little bit of a breather, and that was the time to do it.”
The Laurel Park Hilltop Stakes has attracted several progressive rivals looking to challenge the returning favourite. JDT Racing LLC’s Use Me arrives after an impressive maiden victory at Keeneland for trainer Brendan Walsh and is listed as the second choice on the morning line. Tyler Gaffalione takes the ride.
Coach Mazzula, representing Madaket Stables LLC and trainer Brittany Russell, brings valuable experience into the contest. The filly has already won twice at Laurel Park from six career starts and appears to be finding consistency after some earlier quirks.
“She’s a quirky thing,” Russell said. “Her last run was really good, but she’s had a couple where we’ve had to add blinkers and she’s a little tricky horse to ride in the afternoon. I’m hoping that she’s kind of got it figured out now.”
Trainer Graham Motion will saddle a pair of runners in Brat Pack and Siouxse. Brat Pack previously finished third in the Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream before contesting graded company in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3).
The remainder of the Hilltop field includes Unmiztaken and I Love Giraffes, both aiming to step forward against stakes company in what promises to be one of the feature turf races of the Laurel Park programme.
Attention later on the card turns to the $100,000 The Very One Stakes, where Wesley Ward’s Saturday Flirt is expected to play a leading role in the 5½-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.
The four-year-old returns after a disappointing effort in the Giants Causeway Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, but trainer Wesley Ward believes conditions at Laurel Park could help her rediscover top form.
“I’m looking for her to rebound,” Ward said. “She’s dappled from her nose to her toes and she’s doing really well.”
Saturday Flirt has already won four of her six starts, including the Listed Soaring Softly Stakes at Saratoga last season, and her connections remain confident the Keeneland defeat can be forgiven.
“Keeneland’s a funny track,” Ward added. “It’s her home track and my home track. It’s a sand-based track, so a lot of grass horses over the last 19 years I’ve been training here, sometimes they’ll disappoint. You take [Saturday Flirt] to other places and she just flies.”
Among the opposition is Lost and Found, who will make her first appearance for trainer Brittany Russell after back-to-back victories at Turfway Park. Russell indicated the immediate aim is to secure black-type form with the filly.
Another notable contender is Sunna, trained by Kent Sweezey, who enters off a dominant optional claiming success at Gulfstream Park.
The supporting cast for The Very One includes Sporting Lady, Les Reys, Somnium, Strutsherstuff, Julee’s Legacy and Malibu Hooch, giving Friday’s Laurel Park card considerable depth across its featured turf events.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz