LRL: Le Gris aims for profit
Frank Vesp- November 30, 2025
Four-year-old Le Gris visited the eighth circuit of his career on Sunday and clearly found Laurel Park to his liking.
Riding a second-level fee of $53,000 for a distance of 1 1/16 miles, the City of Light gelding raced to the early lead, setting steady breaks and running away from his rivals late to win by nine lengths. The running time over a good main circuit was 1:46.62.
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“I didn’t see much speed in the race,” said winning rider Jevian Toledo. “In the race he won [Aug. 10 at Saratoga]he came second and fought for the lead. From one hole I felt like I had to break sharp and try to move forward, and that’s what we did.”
His cause was helped when the gates opened when Pirate, who probably seemed to have the speed of speed, stumbled. That took that rival out of his best game and left Toledo and Le Gris to dictate terms.
Le Gris, away as the 7-5 favorite, led by a length after an opening quarter-mile in 24.22 seconds and 2 ½ lengths after a half in 48.72. The lead was two lengths after three quarters in 1:13.70, and on all three calling points his nearest pursuer was Hagrid’s Flame with Martin Chuan leading.
By then, late-running Omaha Omaha, making its first appearance since the June 14 Delaware Derby, was beginning to ramp up its run. But Le Gris still had enough left for the long ride, and in no time he was easily cleared.
‘On the three-eighths [pole]“I didn’t even hit him,” Toledo said. “I just tapped him on the shoulder and he took off straight away. I had a lot of horses.”
The margin was 5 ½ lengths at the furlong post and nine at the wire. Omaha Omaha edged out Hagrid’s Flame for second place, with that rival well clear of Magical Ways, who finished in fourth place. King’s River and Pirate completed the finishing order. Crossland was scratched.
Le Gris paid $4.80 to win and topped an exacta that paid $22.70 for a one dollar bet.
Owned and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, who claimed him on August 10 for $30,000, Le Gris now has four career wins and more than $200,000 in earnings from 18 starts.
One race later, 3-5 favorite Passage East blew a third-level race for fillies and mares, going well clear midway to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:12.56. Trained by Hugh McMahon for Larry Rabold, Passage East was ridden to victory by student Yedsit Hazlewood, who took his second win of the day and the 100.e of his great first season.
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