Alwaysinahurry came from off the pace to win the Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, April 15, giving his trainer, Phil Capuano, his first stakes win.

Alwaysinahurry was sent off as the 8-1 sixth choice in a nine-horse field which included top local sprinters Eastern Bay, Factor It In, Al Loves Josie and New York shipper Bankit. Breaking from post position seven, Alwaysinahurry began cleanly and rated in mid-pack about 5 1/2 lengths off the early lead. Longshot Kenny Had a Notion set solid early fractions, going the first quarter in :23.27 and the opening half in :46.73.

As they turned for home, Maryland-bred Hello Hot Rod struck the front, while Alwaysinahurry made a strong rally in the center of the track. Under left-handed urging from Jorge Ruiz, Alwaysinahurry made the front as they passed the sixteenth pole and crossed the wire a one-length winner. Hello Hot Rod, seeking his first stakes win in more than two years, held second to complete the Maryland-bred exacta. The final time for seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:24.05. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run, in which Alwaysinahurry drifted in. After examining the race for several minutes, the result stood.

The victory improved Alwaysinahurry’s career record to 7-5-4 from 24 starts, with earnings of $425,082. This is his third career stakes victory, having previously won the 2021 Concern Stakes at Pimlico and last year’s Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes at Laurel Park.  

The 5-year-old son of Northview stallion Great Notion was bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Quin Bowman and Rebecca Davis. He sold for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale in 2020 to Mopo Racing, who has campaigned him throughout his career. He was originally trained by Dale Capuano, but was transferred to his nephew Phil’s barn upon Dale’s retirement at the end of 2022. This is his first victory for Phil; he was previously no better than third in his first three starts of the season. 

Alwaysinahurry is the last of 11 foals for his dam Otherwise Perfect, an unraced daughter of Lemon Drop Kid. Otherwise Perfect produced eight winners, including stakes winners Clubman and I Stand Alone.