Maryland-bred colt Big Cuddle bounced back from the first defeat of his career with a determined performance at Laurel Park on Saturday, collaring favored Final Story in mid-stretch before edging away to win the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes by half a length.
The victory gave trainer Gary Capuano another notable success on one of the biggest afternoons in Maryland racing, as Big Cuddle delivered strongly under rising apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood during the 28th running of the Sir Barton Stakes.
The 1 1/16-mile contest for 3-year-olds was part of Laurel Park’s high-profile 14-race card headlined by the 151st Preakness Stakes, with nine stakes races collectively worth $3.15 million in purses.
Pocket 3’s Racing’s Big Cuddle, equipped with blinkers for the first time after finishing second in his seasonal return last month, settled behind the early speed before producing a sustained run around the far turn. Hazlewood angled the Gary Capuano-trained colt into the clear approaching the quarter pole and steadily reeled in Final Story, who had taken command after tracking the pace set by stablemate Let’s Go Lando.
Sir Barton Stakes results.
Let’s Go Lando established the early fractions, covering the opening quarter-mile in 24.69 seconds. Final Story travelled comfortably in second under Irad Ortiz Jr., while Big Cuddle saved ground in third through the opening stages.
Final Story assumed control after a half-mile in 48.64 seconds and appeared poised to make a winning stakes debut turning for home. But Hazlewood had Big Cuddle gathering momentum on the outside, and the Maryland-bred responded willingly in the stretch to gain the upper hand and pull clear late.
Big Cuddle stopped the clock in 1:44.47 over a fast main track and returned $12.80 for victory. Final Story held second, 6 ¾ lengths ahead of Minorinconvenience in third. Let’s Go Lando, Pont Aven and Falcon Jet completed the order of finish. Morning-line favorite Reagan’s Honor was scratched earlier in the day.
The win continued an impressive start to Big Cuddle’s career. The son of Great Notion won on debut at Delaware Park last year before capturing the Maryland Million Nursery at Laurel Park in October. Saturday’s Sir Barton triumph marked his third victory from four starts.
Hazlewood, Maryland’s leading apprentice rider and a finalist for the 2025 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice jockey, celebrated his third win on the card.
Trainer Gary Capuano was pleased with the colt’s response after adding blinkers for the first time.
“He ran super. He got a pretty good trip, but it got a little tight around the turn. I thought he might get pinched a little bit, but once he got through…” Capuano said.
“He’s just been training awesome. It was a good race, a great race.”
Capuano added that the added distance suited the colt despite another slow beginning from the gate.
“He still didn’t break sharp, even with the blinkers. For some reason he seems to not break too quick, but going two turns it helped, because the pace isn’t so fast, so he didn’t have as much to do to catch up.”
Hazlewood also credited the trainer’s instructions after guiding Big Cuddle to victory in the Sir Barton Stakes.
“Everything went good. First, I want to thank the trainer for the opportunity to ride him,” Hazlewood said.
“The trainer told me, ‘Just follow the number 4 around there,’ and that was it. It was tight at the half-mile pole, and I had just a little bit of trouble, but then I was able to get in the clear and get the position I wanted and that was it. He really held on at the end.”
The Sir Barton Stakes honours the legendary Sir Barton, the first horse to complete what later became known as the Triple Crown when he swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1919. The Hall of Fame runner won or placed in all 13 starts during his 3-year-old season and remains one of the most important figures in American racing history.
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