LRL: Change in tactics pays off for Feeling Woozy
Leader opts for stalk-and-pounce trip Under the
Frank Vesp- February 5, 2026
Feeling Woozy is typically the kind of horse that wants to be in the front early. But in a race full of speed, jockey Martin Chuan had a change of heart, and the result was a sharp score in Thursday’s Laurel Park event, a $56,000 third-level allowance for children aged four and over.
“I saw there was a lot of speed in this race and I changed the idea today,” Chuan said. “It was a good day to try something different, and it worked.”
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Feeling Woozy, a six-year-old Irish War Cry gelding, earned his eighth victory in 40 career starts and zoomed past $400,000 in career earnings. He is trained by Jamie Ness for Super C Racing and his own Jagger Inc.
The race, which covered 1 1/16 miles, quickly developed into a series of three duets. Le Gris took an early lead while being pushed out by JD Factor. Chuan and Feeling Woozy sat outside in the clearing behind those two, with Pay Billy on his inside, and behind them came Secret Zipper and Hittheroadjak.
Le Gris and JD Factor showed off their early speed, covering a quarter mile in 23.23 seconds, and half a second in 46.88.
Chuan put Feeling Woozy into action midway through the turn, and he moved easily towards the tiring leaders, head first, close to the quarter post. On the track he had enough in reserve to keep his rivals safe, with the hard-working Pay Billy, seventh in last year’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, rallying among the runners-up, 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner. Hittheroadjak took the show dough, but was more than three lengths behind Pay Billy.
The running time for 1 1/16 miles on a fast main circuit was 1:46.60.
Feeling Woozy paid $16.00 to win, and the $1 exacta, with Pay Billy underneath, netted $25.50.
“He always tries the horse,” Chuan said afterwards with a smile. “We won three races with him. I know him and he likes me.”
NOTES Woozy’s victory felt was one of three for trainer Jamie Ness today, which should have been a welcome sight for the conditioner, who entered the day 1-for-17 at Laurel but had finished second seven times… Jockey Mychel Sanchez also won three, including two for Ness and one for Mike Pino, who steered Duration to a maiden victory in the special weight by 9 ½ lengths… Jockey Brittany Scampton recorded her first victory since August 23, 2024 when she guided Woodline, the 5-2 favorite after time, to a 1 ¼ length victory in the sixth race for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon…
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