Newstead Stables‘ Laurelin Remains Undefeated with Memories of Silver Stakes Victory
Laurelin (Ire) delivered a perfectly timed stretch run to capture the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday, extending her unbeaten record to three races.
The 3-year-old Zarak filly, a Goffs September Yearling Sale graduate selected by Form Bloodstock, made a decisive move down the lane to secure the victory under jockey Kendrick Carmouche.
Trained by Graham Motion, Laurelin has shown remarkable consistency since her 1 1/2-length debut win during the Belmont At The Big A meet last October. She followed that performance with another victory in the Tepin Stakes over the same turf course in November before taking a winter break.
Going off as the 2-1 second choice behind Virgin Colada (More Than Ready), Laurelin positioned herself near the pace early as Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi) set the early fractions. The chestnut filly settled comfortably through the backstretch before gathering momentum around the far turn, targeting the leader at the top of the stretch and displaying an impressive turn of foot to secure the win.
“That was very cool,” Motion said after the race. “She’s just a stone-cold runner this filly. I really wasn’t sure if she was fit enough today, but I wanted to get her started in this race because she does so well at Aqueduct and Kendrick gets along so well with her.”
Motion indicated that multiple options remain open for Laurelin’s next start, including potential international competition.
“I think everything is on the table at this point. I will nominate her to the Coronation in Ascot in June,” he said. “But there’s so many nice races for 3-year-old fillies over here as well, so we have a lot of options. The one thing I’ll say is I won’t be in a hurry to run her back, I thought she ran a big race today.”
The filly’s dam, Bari (Ire), has a 2-year-old colt by Space Blues (Ire) as her most recent registered foal. Laurelin is a half-sister to Irish stakes winner Maud Gonne Spirit (Ire) (Intello), and her extended female family includes G2 Doncaster Cup winner Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling).
Opulent Restraint (Ire) finished second for trainer Chad Brown, while favored TDN Rising Star Virgin Colada took third, also for Brown.
The final time for the one-mile turf contest was 1:38.68 on good ground.
Undefeated! LAURELIN is now 3 for 3 after her win in the Memories Of Silver Stakes with @KendrickCarmou1 aboard for trainer @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/mN8COrxYH4
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA)
Undefeated! LAURELIN is now 3 for 3 after her win in the Memories Of Silver Stakes with April 27, 2025
