Talk to the Judge earned her first stakes victory in the Miss Disco Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, July 29, prevailing by a head in an exciting finish.

The 3-year-old daughter of Northview stallion Golden Lad returned to dirt in this race following a seventh-place finish on grass in the Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park two weeks ago. She finished third in her most recent dirt race, a Delaware Park allowance on June 1. For the Miss Disco, bettors sent her off at 13-1 in the eight-horse field of Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Talk to the Judge broke well and was sent to the front from post position two under Victor Carrasco. She protected the rail position through an opening quarter of :23.02 and a half in :45.37. Fast Tracked attempted to prompt the leader from the outside, but Talk to the Judge held clear as they turned for home.

In the final three-sixteenths, Liquidator, who drafted well off the honest early pace, made a move after the leader and looked ready to roll by. However, Talk to the Judge was game and fended her rival off, re-opening a half-length advantage. The margin was cut in the final few yards, but the wire came in time for Talk to the Judge as she completed seven furlongs on a fast track in hot, humid conditions in 1:23.81. Favorite Malibu Moonshine, last year's Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly making her first start since February, was never a factor and finished last.

The victory improved Talk to the Judge’s career record to 3-0-2 from seven starts for earnings of $116,432. She’s owned by Waldorf Racing Stables LLC and based at Parx Racing for trainer Marya Montoya, the same owner-trainer combination who teamed up to win the 2018 Maryland Million Nursery with Follow the Dog.

Talk to the Judge was bred by Tom and Chris Bowman out of the unraced Not For Love mare Talkin Smack. Her third dam, Gin Talking (Allen’s Prospect) was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in 2000 and won six stakes races in her 11-race career. Second dam Smooth Talking was stakes placed in five starts and produced stakes winners Cynergy’s Star and Look Who’s Talking.

From six foals of racing age, Talkin Smack is the dam of five starters, four of them winners, including Always Talking (Despite the Odds), a 15-time winner with career earnings of $317,831. Talkin Smack’s most recent reported foal is a yearling filly by Great Notion.