Maryland Thoroughbred

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Digger goes gate to wire to win Fire Plug Stakes
Repole Stable’s Digger sped to the lead, turned back the 4-5 favorite, and drew off to a driving victory in the $70,000 Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, Jan. 16.

Never menaced at any point, Digger and jockey Mike Luzzi completed the six furlongs in a stakes record 1:09.13 and finished three and three-quarters lengths the better of Celtic Innis, who nipped Malibu Kid for second. Ravalo, the post time favorite, faded for fourth.

“I had to use him a little bit to get there, but he was ready today,” Luzzi said. “He warmed up like a champ. Bruce is on fire in New York and he brought some fire down here. I know Ravalo. I rode him and won on him a few times. I thought we were on the faster horse. It felt like I still had more. I hadn’t asked him and I think Richie [Richard Migliore on Ravalo] was riding his horse. I thought as soon as I set him down he’d kick on and he did.”

Claimed for $50,000 last summer by Scott Lake for Repole and transferred to Bruce Brown in October, the son of Yonaguska entered the Fire Plug off a determined victory in Aqueduct’s Gravesend Handicap the day after Christmas. Digger is now 6-for-11 with 10 one-two-three finishes at Laurel. During the 2007 fall meeting he won three Maryland-bred stakes races while in the Richard Dutrow barn.

“He’s really coming into his own right now, just been training great,” Brown said. “When he gets on the lead like he did today he’s pretty tough. He ran a huge race last time out and he actually came out of the race better then he came in. Sometimes you say that and they make liars out of you but he was really on go today.”

Brown says his 6-year-old is a likely contender for next month’s seven-furlong, Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel on Monday, Feb. 15.

“He definitely loves the track,” added Brown. “As long as he’s doing good, we’ll be back.”

Digger, who upped his career earnings to $455,278 with the victory, was bred by Skeedattle Associates, a partnership of Marylanders Willie White, Lou Rehak and Bob Orndoff. He is the first foal from his dam, Da Choice (by Dehere), whom Skeedattle purchased for $70,000 at the 2001 Keeneland September Yearling sale. A half-sister to graded winner Millie’s Quest, Da Choice was unraced.

Digger was claimed from Skeedattle while making his second career start, for a $25,000 maiden claiming tag, in November of his 2-year-old season at Laurel.