Maryland Million Lassie Win Years in the Making for Smith
Kenneth King Wins Jim McKay Maryland Million Handicapping Challenge
By John Piassek
The Capuano name appears throughout the Maryland Million history books. Dale Capuano is the all-time leading trainer in Million history, with 15 winners, while his brother, Gary, has conditioned seven Maryland Million winners.
Phil Capuano, Gary’s son and Dale’s nephew, began carving his own Maryland Million legacy in this year’s $100,000 Andor Farm Maryland Ladies for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the All Along Turf Course. His 4-year-old filly, Mopo, prevailed by three-quarters of a length, giving Phil his first Million win.
“It means a lot to get my first [Maryland Million] win,” Capuano said in the winners’ circle. “It’s such a great day to celebrate Maryland horses, Maryland horsemen, and everyone who puts this together.”
As has become tradition, Precious Avary, who won this race in 2023 and finished second in 2024, set an uncontested early pace. She opened up a long lead, getting through the opening quarter in 24.14 seconds and the first half-mile in 48.03 seconds. Paco Lopez kept Mopo, the 3-2 favorite, well off that early pace, moving her to the rail from the outside post position and rating her in second.
“I thought the post helped her a bit, because Paco’s a good rider and he can see how the break goes and has plenty of time to pick a good spot. He was able to shuffle over to the inside and save ground. He rode a very patient race.”
As they rounded the far turn, Precious Avary began to give way, and Mopo got the first jump on the embattled leader. Lopez angled her off the inside and took control at the top of the lane. She met a stiff challenger on her outside in 10-1 Beautiful Blome, and the two dueled down the lane. Under vigorous Lopez urging, Mopo held on for the victory, stopping the clock at 1 1/16 miles on a sun-splashed firm grass course in 1:43.28.
Beautiful Blome finished second, while second choice Nick’s Notion closed from well off the pace to finish third. Lendalfoot, High View, Elliptical Gina, Juniper Juice, Weekend Wife, Old Bay, and Precious Avary completed the order of finish.
Once the poster child for “seconditis,” Mopo has come into her own this season. She was 1-for-9 with six runner-up finishes last year, but has improved to 4-for-7 this year, including a win in the six-furlong Jameela Stakes on this track in June.
“She’s incredibly versatile,” said Capuano. “This year, her first race coming off the layoff, we ran her short, and we kept her short because she was doing so well. I have no doubt in my mind that this filly can do anything.”
Mopo is owned by Mopo Racing, the nom de course of talk show host Maury Povich. She’s by the now-pensioned Northview stallion Great Notion, the second-leading stallion in Maryland Million history, and was bred by the Maryland Million’s leading breeders, Tom and Chris Bowman, in partnership with their son, Brooke, and Becky Davis. She’s out of the Distorted Humor mare Perverse, who has produced six six-figure earners, five of whom are stakes winners or stakes-placed.
*Maryland Million Lassie Win Years in the Making for Smith
When Tap That Cat arrived at Hamilton Smith’s barn at Laurel Park six years ago, it’s hard to imagine he envisioned the role the mare would play in his life.
Smith campaigned Tap That Cat, who won once in four starts for trainer Brad Cox in 2019, through two unplaced efforts in the summer of 2020. When she retired, her owner told Smith he could keep her as a broodmare if he wished. Smith accepted, breeding her to Murmur Farm’s Blofeld for 2024. The resulting foal, Talking Foolish, won the $100,000 Glenangus Farm Maryland Million Lassie for juvenile fillies at six furlongs by 2½ lengths.
Sent off as the 7-2 third choice in an eight-horse field, Talking Foolish broke toward the back of the pack and, as they approached the far turn, was rushed to the lead by new rider Jevian Toledo. She poked a head in front of early leader Whose Notion midway on the turn and wrested command at the top of the lane. By the eighth pole, she had put away Whose Notion and had enough left in the tank to keep Mountain Mamba’s rally at bay. She covered six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.17.
Mountain Mamba finished second, with Whose Notion in third. Olivia’s Legacy, Just a Smooch, Belle Shot, Blo Your Mind, and Legend’s Girl completed the order of finish.
The victory marked Smith’s 12th win in the Maryland Million as a trainer, his first as an owner, and his second as a breeder, following Varborough’s win in the 2012 Maryland Million Starter Handicap. This was the third time a Blofeld progeny won the Lassie, following Chickieness in 2022 and Miss Harriett in 2023.
Smith cited the addition of blinkers as a key factor in Talking Foolish’s victory. “She was getting out last time [in the Smart Halo Stakes], and she never really had a chance to run. We don’t know why she did it; we checked her teeth, feed, and everything else, but she didn’t have any ailments. We put the blinkers on and added a brush bit, and it straightened her up.”
*Kenneth King Wins Jim McKay Maryland Million Handicapping Challenge
Kenneth King proved best among the 103 entrants in the Jim McKay Maryland Million Handicapping Challenge, earning first prize with a final bankroll of $4,649.
King played the contest through TwinSpires, and received the lion’s share of the prize pool, taking home $4,750 in cash on top of his bankroll. Additionally, King can take his pick of two full seats in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge or two National Handicapping Challenge prize packs.
The top five were rounded out by Michael Domabyl with $3,938.50 (played through Xpressbet), Francis Paros with $3,548 (Xpressbet), Nicholas Smith with $3,380 (Xpressbet), and on-site player Paul Belgan with $3,189.
The one-day tournament was held at Laurel Park and online via Xpressbet, TVG/4NJBets, HPIBET, and TwinSpires. The entry fee was $800, and participants received a $400 bankroll for win, place, show, exacta, and daily double wagers on all Maryland Million races. Contestants had to play at least $80 per race and wager on at least five races on the card.