“When we had all the snow and ice, he hurt himself, so we put a lot of time and effort into rehabbing him because [trainer] Milan [Milosevic] said this is a special horse,” said breeder-owner Richie Blue Jr.

Big Bolton has familial ties, both equine and human, to the Blue crew.

Blue bred Big Bolton’s dam, Hot Friesia, and named the 3-year-old after his grandson.

“The mare is a big mare, and she produces big foals,” Blue said. “My mother’s maiden name was Bolton. One of my daughters named my grandson Bolton. I said we’re going to call [him] Big Bolton because he’s a big kid. His father played football at Yale. He’s 2 years old and looks like a 4-year-old.”

Big Bolton made a strong debut last year, winning a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on good turf by 2 1/4 lengths on November 8.

“As soon as he started breezing, it was as if he were a little different and bred for the turf,” Milosevic said. “We tried to get one maiden win last year. At the end of the year, we did.”

After turf season ended last year, Big Bolton tried twice on the dirt but couldn’t replicate his grass success.

“I’m not trying dirt again,” Blue said.

Big Bolton returned to the races in September, finishing sixth after a poor start. He improved three weeks later, running a close third after setting the pace.

“He drew the one [post] both times, and the last time he had to work hard to get to the front, and then got tired at the end,” Milosevic said.

On Sunday, Big Bolton and jockey Jorge Ruiz settled just off the favored Biscuitwiththeboss, a filly facing males for trainer Brittany Russell. The fractions of 23.05 and 45.48 were solid on a course that seemed to favor speed types all week long.

Ruiz briefly glanced back inside the quarter pole, then shook the reins at Big Bolton, who responded by dispatching Biscuitwiththeboss. From there, Big Bolton did the rest, driving under the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Chimney Sweep.

Reggie Runs Rogue, who returned from a 477-day layoff as a new gelding for his turf debut, stayed on to finish third, a nose behind the runner-up. Enduring Gold, Watch Out World, and the multiple stakes-placed Biscuitwiththeboss completed the order.

Big Bolton returned $6.60 as the second choice in the betting. Rye Diggitydog and Brightshininglight scratched out.

“He did it as he did in his first start,” Milosevic noted. “He’s not a headstrong horse. He likes company, too. In the mornings, he’s never going to blow them away. He’ll just cruise alongside the horses. He likes to be with them. When he was younger, he was a little spooky. That’s why he wears blinkers. He would look at things.”

Blue and Milosevic are looking forward to Big Bolton’s 4-year-old campaign, noting that he’s Virginia-certified and eligible for lucrative restricted races at Colonial Downs and for important local stakes, including next year’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint.

Big Bolton has won two of six starts and earned $72,250.

*Around the track:

Jockey Jaime Rodriguez rode two winners on Sunday’s card. Rodriguez rode in the pocket in the day’s opener aboard Cara’s Dreamweaver ($4) for trainer Jamie Ness, then used similar tactics aboard Let’s Be Frank ($3.80) in the third. Rodriguez is now one win behind Mychel Sanchez in the meet’s jockey standings.

Majorca ($5.20) ran the fastest seven furlongs of the meet in today’s fourth race, a ratings-optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Danny Eubanks and ridden by Angel Cruz, Majorca wired the field from the rail post position and clocked 1:22.86 on the fast track.

Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Friday’s is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Big Bolton Runs Huge in Sunday Co-Feature first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

Musashi, a first-time starter trained by Hugh McMahon, opened at 1-2. As the late, great racing personality Harvey Pack would say, Musashi was apparently the “fastest horse in the world.”

Musashi drifted to 2-1 at post time, still the favorite in a field of twelve promising youngsters. He ran like he was 1-2, showing sharp early speed under jockey Charlie Marquez, setting fractions of 22.50 and 46.01, then cruising home with mere hands-and-heels urging to prevail by eight lengths in 1:12.02 on the fast track.

Side Hug finished second, two lengths ahead of Replicate. Sunday Legacy, Tony Stark, Midnight Mosey, Diminuto Burrito, Emperor Ming, Bourbonontheporch, Foolish Lover, Uptomom, and Golden Gavin followed.

Musashi paid $6.80 to win.

McMahon credited Marquez, who leaves next week for a winter riding stint at Tampa Bay Downs.

“I told Charlie we need to be in a forward position because there’s a lot of activity there, and you might have to work for it. He did a good job warming him up and getting him ready for a good break.”

Musashi, a homebred owned by SAB Stable, is by Great Notion, Maryland’s perennial leading active sire before he was pensioned late last year, and out of Samurai Steph (by Lea). Great Notion has won with 13 of his last 45 debut runners, a 29% strike rate.

His second dam, Sassy’s Dream (by Flower Alley), was stakes-placed on turf.

McMahon has won with 4 of his last 11 juvenile debut runners (36%).

“He was very awkward at the beginning because he had a growth spurt,” he said of Musashi. “His back end was really high, and his front end was really inferior, and he had a lot of growing up to do. My owner’s really patient, so we just took our time with him. The last couple of months, he started blossoming.”

McMahon likes to give his horses long, steady breezes rather than short, fast workouts. Musashi worked five times at five furlongs before tuning up for Saturday’s race with a one-mile breeze in 1:45 on October 23.

“[The mile works] are kind on them,” McMahon said when asked last year about that specific training regimen. “I like to go two turns because they go to their left lead around the turn, then to their right lead. They’re doing that throughout. We go 14 [seconds] to the pole, and then in the last three-eighths we split them into a breeze and try to do 12’s at the end and get some wind in their lungs.”

McMahon was very impressed with Musashi’s demeanor.

“In the paddock today, he was really composed, just like he’s been doing this his entire life,” McMahon said. “When you go to work on him, he’ll be a bit strange in the stall. But, other than that, he’s got a good mind.”

*Around the track:

Jockey Forest Boyce rode two turf winners on the card. She nursed Bushido ($5.80) on the lead in the third race and had just enough to fend off rail-skimming Forest Glow for trainer Lacey Gaudet. Boyce then worked out an inside-out closer’s trip aboard Synergism ($7.20) in the seventh race.

Trainer Jamie Ness saddled two winners. He struck in the opener with favored Mischievous Twins ($3.60), ridden by jockey Mychel Sanchez, then teamed up with jockey Martin Chuan for Law School ($6.20) in the eighth race.

Jockey Carlos Lopez swept the late daily double. Mongolian Apple ($13.80) wired the field in the ninth race for trainer Renaldo Richards, while Igaming ($3.40) rallied from off the pace for trainer Brittany Russell.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:05 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. The Sunday guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Musashi Impresses in Career Debut first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

Peering through his blinkers, he glared maliciously at the patrons, then stomped around the paddock, a bundle of coiled energy. His trainer, Robbie Bailes, couldn’t keep him in the saddling enclosure, so he saddled Prince of Peace while the colt circled the walking ring.

Tasked with breaking from the inside post in the featured seventh race, a $49,000 first-level allowance for 2-year-olds at six furlongs, Prince of Peace didn’t get the best start under jockey Jevian Toledo, who quickly eased him to the outside, leaving him to race three wide in midpack.

Up front, Winslow dazzled with his early speed, completing the opening quarter in 22.42 seconds, two lengths clear of Grind It Out. Winslow repelled that challenge after a half-mile in 45.81 seconds, then took a clear lead into the stretch.

Toledo urged Prince of Peace along inside the five-sixteenths pole, but the gray colt didn’t respond immediately, so the jockey wheeled him wide. Prince of Peace then unfurled his long stride and gained inch by inch on Winslow, passing the pacesetter in the final 150 yards to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:11.27 over the fast track.

Winslow ran a winning race but settled for second, 6¾ lengths ahead of Harewood. Grind It Out, Day Made, Uncle Gene, and Frost Rocket followed.

The odds-on favorite, Prince of Peace, paid $3.80 to win. Vekoma Moon and Time to Groove scratched.

“He’s a handful,” admitted Bailes, who won two races on Friday’s card, and is 9 for 25 since October 4. “We’ve been working with him a lot, and he’s getting there. Mentally, he’s getting there on the track. Paddock? It’s a little bit slower.”

Noting that the track may have favored speed and the inside in the last few days, Bailes thought Prince of Peace “might get third” after the poor start and wide bid, and was pleasantly surprised by the strong late surge.

“I thought he would be right on top of them, but he broke really bad,” Bailes said. “Toledo said he didn’t like the dirt [in his face], and as soon as he got him out, he came charging.”

Foaled in Virginia, Prince of Peace is a homebred owned by Steven Smith and Chris Kuhn. He is by Cairo Prince out of Jewell’s Song (by Uncaptured). His dam is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Elusive Lady

Prince of Peace raced four times over the summer at Colonial Downs, winning a restricted maiden special weight at 5 ½ furlongs in his final try there on September 3. The following month, he finished second in the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel.

“He’s getting better and better,” Bailes concluded. “We’re going to have some fun with him.”

*Around the track:

Jockey Jorge Ruiz rode two turf winners on Friday. Ruiz rallied from off the pace in the day’s opener aboard Light de Night ($19.60) for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. In the third race, Ruiz pushed the pace aboard Quadra ($9.80) for trainer Michael Trombetta.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:05 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. The Saturday guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.

The post Prince of Peace Crowns Them in Friday Feature first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

Scabiosa proved her win was no fluke on Thursday afternoon, as she once again showed easy early speed, opened a long advantage turning into the stretch, and was never threatened in a first-level allowance at 5 ½ furlongs on the Bowl Game Turf Course.

“Man, she’s just fast,” marveled jockey Jomar Torres. “She broke really good, and when I asked at the quarter pole, she took off really good.”

Scabiosa was a 9-2 shot in her first run at Laurel, but the betting public wasn’t fooled today, hammering her down to evens on the tote.

They never felt anxious.

Scabiosa was two lengths clear in the blink of an eye, blazing the trail in 22.60 and 45.11 seconds. She drove under the wire 2 ¼ lengths clear of Maybe Gold in 1:02.93 on the firm course.

Worryaboutyourself finished another nose back in third. Millford Lass, Gypsy Lullaby, She’s a Twelve, Occupy, and Laflordelacanela were next. Bellablaze scratched in the paddock after acting up badly. Almas Gone Gamblin, Weaver, No One Else’s, and Go New York Go also withdrew.

Pennsylvania-bred Scabiosa, owned by Tom Coulter’s Arrowwood Farm, is by Mendelssohn out of multiple stakes-placed Ianthe (Sky Mesa). Her second dam, Bellflower (Cherokee Run), placed in a dirt sprint stakes at Laurel Park.

A half-sister to the stakes-placed Queen’s Wreath, Scabiosa is trained by Parx-based Hugo Padilla, who raced the filly three times on dirt at Parx, Penn National, and Delaware, finishing on the board in each race.

After the maiden-race blowout, Padilla tried Scabiosa again on dirt, no surprise given her versatile pedigree. She ran a fine third in a tough first-level allowance at Delaware on October 14.

“She loves the turf,” Torres commented. “She did it so easy today. She’s really good. She’s got talent.”

*Around the track:

Jockey Mychel Sanchez rode two winners on Thursday’s program. He placed Kuhner ($6.60) right on the lead in the day’s opener and stayed strong to the wire for trainer Robbie Bailes. Sanchez then swept the early Daily Double, wiring the second race aboard Quaker City ($4) for trainer Jamie Ness. Sanchez leads Jaime Rodriguez by one victory in the current meet standings.

Live racing resumes Friday with a ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, the first post time is 12:00 pm ET, and two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Friday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

The post Scabiosa Blitzes Them Again first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) Board of Directors today approved a Facilities Operations Agreement with The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. (TMJC), establishing the framework for the operation, management, maintenance, and security of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park.

The agreement represents an important milestone in Maryland’s commitment to the future of thoroughbred racing, establishing clear responsibilities between MSA, as owner of the facilities, and TMJC, as the exclusive operator. It also establishes requirements for financial reporting, auditing, maintenance planning, security, and coordination of capital investments to protect the State’s long-term interests.

“We’re not just rebuilding Pimlico. We’re building the foundation for Maryland thoroughbred racing’s next chapter. The Board’s responsibility is to make sure the public investment we’re making today continues to deliver value for decades to come,” said Craig Thompson, Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority Board of Directors.

Under the agreement, MSA retains its responsibilities as owner, including planning and delivering authorized capital improvements, while TMJC assumes responsibility for day-to-day operations, maintenance, and security. The agreement also establishes financial oversight and reporting requirements, procedures for capital planning, and measures to manage operational and financial risk.

“This agreement is about more than operating two racing facilities. It’s about being clear on who’s responsible for what, protecting Maryland’s investment, and creating the conditions for these facilities to deliver lasting value for the industry, surrounding communities and taxpayers,” said Lindsey Parker, Executive Director of the Maryland Stadium Authority.

The Maryland Jockey Club will oversee racing operations and the management of both facilities, including supporting the transition of primary racing operations to the redeveloped Pimlico Race Course.

“Today marks an important step forward for Maryland thoroughbred racing,” said Bill Knauf, President and General Manager of The Maryland Jockey Club. “We are committed to delivering first-class racing and training facilities, providing an outstanding experience for horsemen and fans, and building a sustainable future for this industry. Our partnership with the Maryland Stadium Authority is essential to realizing that vision, and we look forward to the work ahead.”

Together, MSA and TMJC will continue advancing the redevelopment of Pimlico, coordinating the transition of racing operations, and preparing for the long-term operation of Maryland’s thoroughbred racing and training facilities.

The shared objective is to deliver safe equine facilities, strengthen Maryland’s racing industry, support surrounding communities, and maximize the public benefit of the State’s investment.

About the Maryland Stadium Authority:

The Maryland Stadium Authority was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1986 to build, manage, and maintain quality facilities to retain Major League Baseball and return the National Football League to Maryland. MSA’s mission has expanded significantly over the decades to include school construction, convention facilities, racing, economic development, and sports tourism. To date, MSA has completed more than $7 billion in projects across the state. MSA manages approximately $2 billion in total assets, with $762 million in active construction funding supporting projects in communities across Maryland. For more information, click here.

The post Maryland Stadium Authority Board Approves Facilities Operations Agreement with The Maryland Jockey Club first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

LAUREL, MD—Maybe, just maybe, Howgreatisnate is returning to the form that propelled him to stakes victories at Delaware and Parx in 2022 and at Monmouth the following year.

His regular rider, Julio Hernandez, expected a bigger effort this afternoon than in Howgreatisnate’s previous start, a third-place finish in a high-level allowance at Delaware on July 21. Hernandez’s faith was rewarded when the gelding rallied up the inside to win Sunday’s featured ninth race at Laurel Park, a $56,000 allowance at seven furlongs.

“In the last race, we were counting on him to run better,” Hernandez said. “Right after the race, he got sick. We gave him a little time off, and he’s been working better than ever.”

Trained by Andy Simoff, Howgreatisnate was bumped from both sides leaving the gate. Hernandez let him settle into a rhythmic stride while saving ground at the back as Dr. Steve and Power Grid battled for the lead through fractions of 23.39 and 46.29 seconds.

Power Grid turned for home in front, but Hernandez kept patiently scraping the paint. The rail opened up, and Howgreatisnate powered through the opening to win by 3 ¾ lengths in 1:22.91 on the fast track.

“I knew he was going to show up today,” Hernandez said. “We weren’t rushing him to get closer to the pace. This was the horse we’ve been waiting for a year.”

Power Grid finished second, 1 ¾ lengths behind the favorite, multiple stakes-placed Zero Blitz. Derbyness, stakes-winner Worcester, Bump N Run, and stakes-placed Dr. Steve completed the order of finish.

Bred by B D Gibbs Farm in Kentucky, Howgreatisnate is by Speightster out of Bee Dees Bid (by Tapit). Purchased for $67,000 as a yearling by John Guarnere’s Imaginary Stables, Howgreatisnate won his first four starts as a 2-year-old, including the restricted $100,000 First State Dash Stakes at Delaware and the $75,000 Future Stars Stakes at Parx.

Howgreatisnate put his unbeaten streak on the line in his seasonal debut, the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, but he stumbled at the start and unseated his jockey.

Shortly after that race, he bounced between barns, moving to Elizabeth Dobles, Richard Dutrow Jr., and Fernando Abreu before returning to Simoff’s care late last summer.

Howgreatisnate won his first start back in the Simoff barn, a restricted allowance at Delaware on September 14. He hit the board in four of his next seven starts, without a victory, before today’s start.

Hernandez feels that Howgreatisnate, a versatile sort who has won at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 Mile 70 Yards, is very effective at seven furlongs, but is better “when he gets into his own stride at farther than this [distance].”

*Jockey Jeiron Barbosa wins three races

Jockey Jeiron Barbosa rode three winners on Sunday’s card.

He gave Parkes ($23) an exquisite ride in the third race, sitting the pocket, easing out at the right time, and rallying for trainer Suzanne Stettinius. Barbosa then guided first-time starter Miss Checkers ($39.80) to an outside-closing victory in the seventh race. In the day’s final race, Barbosa took no prisoners with Life Boat ($19,60), who took them every step of the way in the first start off the Kevin Joy claim.

This is not Barbosa’s first hat trick at Laurel Park this year.

He won three races on May 30, June 21, and June 26.

Barbosa, 22, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was one of three finalists for the 2022 Eclipse Award for champion apprentice jockey. That year, he captured the Laurel Park spring meet with 20 victories, tied Angel Cruz for top honors at the Laurel fall meet with 44 wins, and won the Pimlico fall meet with 12 wins.

He finished second in this year’s Laurel Park spring meet standings, three wins behind champion Yedsit Hazlewood. At the current meet, Barbosa is tied for second with 15 wins, one behind Mychel Sanchez.

*Around the track:

Live racing resumes Thursday with a special ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, the first post time is 12:00 pm ET, and two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout. There is a $11,992 carryover into the late “Value Pick 5” (races 6-10).

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Thursday’s guide is available Wednesday evening. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

The post Howgreatisnate Upsets Sunday Feature first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

LAUREL, MD—A dense mist rose from the infield lake at Laurel Park Saturday morning, blanketing the racetrack but not dampening anticipation for the 41st edition of the Jim McKay Maryland Million.

Affectionately and appropriately named “Maryland’s Day at the Races,” the afternoon showcased the state’s absolute best, whether as a breeder, jockey, owner, trainer, backstretch employee, or racehorse.

As proven again in the day’s main event, no locally based, Maryland-bred racehorse can surpass Barbadian Runner.

“Maryland’s Horse” successfully defended his crown in the $150,000 Brown Advisory Maryland Million Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, delighting a large crowd that came to cheer and bet on the popular 4-year-old gelding.

They knocked him down to 1-5 on the tote board, clapped with enthusiasm as he and his regular rider, Forest Boyce, passed by them in the post parade, then roared with joy as he surged past Wickedivine and Sacred Thunder with a quarter mile to go.

They rushed to surround the winner’s circle as Barbadian Runner’s veteran trainer, Henry Walters, humbly accepted the trophy.

The Cinderella story of the $5,000 yearling-turned-millionaire continues.

“We looked at several horses at that yearling sale,” Walters said in a video feature earlier this week. “We had about ten that we were really interested in. The ones before him, we didn’t get. We either changed our mind late or we got outbid. When his number came up, we had looked at him earlier on, and he looked like he’d fit in our program.”

Barbadian Runner always trained like a dependable horse.

“The more he ran, the more he blossomed,” Walters explained. “It was quite a surprise to me that he would go a route of ground because he was built like a sprinter, and trained like a sprinter. Once he had a half-dozen races in him, he showed that he wanted to go longer.”

Barbadian Runner is a very handy horse, meaning he can adapt to any race scenario. He broke very well under Boyce and settled in a pocket, just behind pacesetter Goodbye Note and outside the pace-presser Wickeddivine.

The fractions of 23.83 and 48.08 seconds were fair, and Wickeddivine, making his first start beyond six furlongs, moved into a short lead after six furlongs in 1:13.41. Barbadian Runner deftly eased off the inside to avoid a backpedaling Goodbye Note, then set his sights on Sacred Thunder.

There was little drama in the stretch as Barbadian Runner took the lead and strutted home by 4 ¾ lengths in 1:50.03 on a fast track. Sacred Thunder was second, 4 ¾ lengths ahead of Market Maven. Wickeddivine, Omar Comin, In the Dance, Davyjonz, and Goodbye Note completed the order of finish. Derbyness, Roll On Jesse, and Bill of Rights failed to escape the Also Eligible list.

Barbadian Runner paid $2.40 to win.

“We were unsure what kind of pace we were looking at today,” said Walters. “I [didn’t] give [Forest] any instructions. I said to play it by ear, and ride him like you usually do.”

Walters appreciated the fans’ support. “It’s great,” he said. “He’s got his own fan club.”

Boyce, perennially underrated yet consistently excellent, rode two winners on the card after Celtic Contender won the Sprint. Her mounts have earned $2,898,286 this year, her highest total since 2013, and she has earned at least $2 million every year but two since 2010. The Maryland Million Classic was her tenth stakes win this year, tying her career seasonal best.

“I loved that today he broke so sharp, which is where you needed to be,” Boyce said of Barbadian Runner. “I thought we might be a little bit further back, but he normally doesn’t break that sharp. In the last race, I was riding him to keep him in position. So when he did [break well], I thought ‘this is great’ because he put me where I needed to be.”

Bred by Shamrock Farm, Barbadian Runner is by Barbados and out of Quiet Run, by Northern Afleet. His dam is an unraced half-sister to Grade 3 winner It Happened Again.

In an era when top horses often have abbreviated careers, 4-year-old Barbadian Runner has 27 starts, including 11 wins, 8 seconds, and 4 thirds. He has won stakes races at Laurel, Monmouth, Charles Town, and Delaware, and has earned $1,183,635.

Walters was noncommittal about Barbadian Runner’s next race. He said Barbadian Runner may start again in 2026, but the long-term goal is to three-peat in the Classic next year.

*Futile Gesture zips to Nursery win

Futile Gesture, adding blinkers for the first time, showed surprising early speed under jockey Jorge Ruiz, withstood a strong turn challenge from favored Walt’s Notion, and drew away from the field to win the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Maryland Million Nursery for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Futile Gesture took a stride or two to find his best rhythm, then surged to the front, setting fractions of 22.18 and 45.12 seconds. Favored Walt’s Notion, the only two-time winner in the field and coming off a front-running score in the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel on October 3, loomed boldly on the outside, but Futile Gesture shooed him away inside the quarter pole.

From there, the only question was the margin. Officially, it was eight lengths.

Walt’s Notion finished second, half a length ahead of Call It. Sip of Manhattan, Aruba Ariba, Derry Moon, Eclipseness, Uncle K O, and El Pantera followed. Monster Mitch was scratched at the gate, and Remembertheword and Metallican also withdrew.

Futile Gesture returned $23.40 as the distant third choice in the betting. He clocked 1:11.08 on the fast track.

Ruiz said he felt Walt’s Notion breathing down his neck and was surprised by his mount’s response. “I saw him. He put pressure on passing the quarter pole, and then I didn’t see him.”

“You usually don’t get that kind of a response out of a set of blinkers, but boy, I guess coming off those 5 ½ furlong races had him fairly sharp,” Trombetta said by telephone after the race. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just shocked he ran that good. To run against the favorite as well as he did, it was just a lot of fun to watch him. I couldn’t have expected that, to be honest. It gives me a whole new way of thinking of this horse now.”

A homebred owned by Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, Futile Gesture is a gelding by Friesan Fire out of Singita Dreams (by First Samurai). His second dam, Sassy’s Dream, was stakes-placed at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Futile Gesture was a precocious baby, winning his debut in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight race at Laurel on June 6.

“We always liked him, but he’s gotten better every day that we had him,” Trombetta said. “We gave him time after his first win. We turned him out for a month because there was nowhere else to go, and it seemed like it was a perfect plan for him.”

Trombetta opted to run Futile Gesture three times at Colonial Downs over the summer, and the chestnut hit the board in all three, including a runner-up finish in the restricted Jamestown Stakes on August 29.

Trombetta cited the restricted Juvenile Stakes at Laurel Park on December 26 as a possible goal for Futile Gesture.

*King’s River shocks Maryland Million Turf

While Barbadian Runner’s victory didn’t surprise anyone, King’s River shocked horseplayers with a $100.60 mutuel payoff in the $125,000 John Deere Maryland Million Turf for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Piloted by Kevin Gomez, King’s River is the first stakes winner trained by Jose Magana, who claimed King’s River for $7,500 following a third-place finish in a dirt sprint last year.

Breaking from post 11 in the 12-horse field, King’s River raced four paths wide into the first turn while War Humor and Wicked Prankster set fractions of 23.28 and 47.26 seconds.

Wicked Prankster, a two-time winner of this race, opened a 2 1/2-length lead after six furlongs in 1:12.67, but Gomez kept King’s River wide and moving. Losing ground can be costly, but in this race it was the right call, as several horses racing inside King’s River encountered heavy traffic.

Gomez switched King’s River to his right lead in the midstretch, and they snatched the lead from Wicked Prankster. Alakan rallied stoutly but fell a head short at 1:50.44.

Thundering, the odds-on favorite, finished third, two lengths behind Alakan. Zevon, Hanksdiviningrod, Wicked Prankster, Magical Mondays, and Majestic Blue followed. Pont Aven, Live Stream, Virginia Fitz, and War Humor were next. Crabs N Beer and Galatown Gal scratched. Hardspun Reason failed to make the race after being on the Also Eligible list.

“Nice win,” said Gomez, “I got the instructions to break and let him settle, and not send him out of the gate, and try to make one run. I started asking him from the three-eighths pole, then tried not to get in traffic, and that’s what we did. Luckily, we got a clean trip.”

Although Gomez had never ridden King’s River in a race, he was familiar with the horse. “I galloped him a couple of days ago, and then I knew how he likes to go around. Then I watched the replays from his previous races. That helped me a lot.”

Magana was understandably elated. “This is a special horse,” Magana said. “When we first claimed him and started training him, we saw the way he stretches out, so we said he’s got to go long on the turf.”

King’s River returned from a June 21 layoff three weeks ago, but the race was washed off the turf, and he finished sixth, beaten by 25 ¾ lengths. However, the race provided ample fitness for the 5-year-old, who finished second in a Maryland Million Starter Handicap on turf last year.

Bred by Bryan Blair Minnich, King’s River is a gelded son of Irish War Cry and is owned by Pepe Stable and J L M Jacona Stable. A $17,000 yearling buyback, he has won 8 of 40 races, earning $402,045.

*Kerness K wins 11th consecutive race

Kerness K ($3), the winningest horse in North America this year, captured his 11th consecutive start, besting a game Cap Com by 1 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Willow Oaks Farm Maryland Million Starter Handicap for 3-year-olds and up who have started at a claiming price of $12,500 or less since October 11, 2025.

Trained by Jamie Ness, Kerness K ran closer to the pace than in his recent starts, attacked from the outside on the turn, and drove home under a whopping 129-lb. impost. Martin Chuan rode the winner for the fifth consecutive time. Kerness K, a 4-year-old gelding by Great Notion, covered seven furlongs in 1:23.25.

“My partner, Morris Kernan, and I were lucky to buy him at the sale as a yearling,” Ness said. “I went to look at a different horse, and somebody was showing him across the barn. I saw him and said, ‘Wow, that’s the best-looking horse at the sale.’ I called my partner and told him [we should buy this horse]. We paid more than we usually pay, $70,000. We lost him in the claiming ranks at $40,000, but we had a chance to get him back for $7,500, which we took. We won a two-way shake, so we got lucky in that regard. He’s been well-spotted. He shows up every time. I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s hard to win a race, it’s hard to win two, it’s hard to win three and four in a row. We’ve had over 20,000 starts, and it’s rare. It’s hard to keep that horse in that kind of form, and he has. All the credit to him. We spot him right, we space his races, and the results are the results.”

Ness plans to start Kerness K next in one of the Claiming Crown races at Churchill Downs on November 14.

*Around the track:

Trainer Jerry Robb, the winningest active trainer in Jim McKay Maryland Million history, won two more races, pairing with jockey Xavier Perez on Don’t Tell Deren ($24.60) and with Jose Vargas on Marriedtothegame ($9).

Jockey Paco Lopez rode two winners. He booted home Mopo ($5) for trainer Phil Capuano and Whenigettoheaven ($5.40) for trainer Nolan Ramsey.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a ten-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, the first post time is 12:00 pm ET, and two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. The Sunday guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

The post Barbadian Runner Repeats in Maryland Million Classic first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

By Vinnie Perrone

LAUREL, MD–A couple of detours couldn’t divert Celtic Contender from making Maryland Million history today at Laurel Park.

Fully healed from a broken bone in one foot and an infection in another, Celtic Contender rallied to become the first two-time winner in 41 editions of the $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint, this year sponsored by Fair Hill Training Center.

Second betting choice at 8-5 in a field of eight, Celtic Contender loomed boldly as And Sum and New York shipper Suremeanttobe set a lively pace on a fast dirt track. Forest Boyce nudged Celtic Contender closer to the leaders deep through the far turn, and the 5-year-old chestnut took the cue. He passed the frontrunners three-wide, repelled a brief challenge from 3-2 favorite Haileysfirstnotion and held the advantage through the stretch.

Suremeanttobe proceeded gamely but finished a length behind in second, Band Camp another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. And Sum nosed out the slow-starting Top Manipulator (50-1) for fourth.

Celtic Contender, the 2024 Maryland Million Sprint winner, missed last year’s Million with a foot fracture and spent eight months without a start. He resumed racing in March, winning two of five, before he nicked a foreleg in a September workout. A stone bruise surfaced, infection grew, and more idleness ensued.

“The leg blew up,” trainer Hammy Smith said, “and we had to give him some time for that.”

His prep window compressed, Celtic Contender resumed training early this month and braced for the Sprint with two strong half-mile breezes. Jockey Boyce, astride for the sixth straight time, spoke no reservations about their prospects today.

“Hammy does such a good job,” she said. “He kind of left it up to me. It was mine to screw up.”

Neither horse nor rider made a misstep, and Celtic Contender’s six-furlong spin in 1:10.15 coaxed a throng to the winner’s circle. The Lewis Family Racing Stable and invitees of all ages arrived en masse, leaving Celtic Contender to reposition for his triumphant photograph.

By Irish War Cry from the stakes-winning mare Celtic Katie, Maryland-bred Celtic Contender earned $55,590 with the victory, pushing his three-season total to $556,865. The homebred has won three stakes in an 8-for-23 career and 19 times has finished third or better.

“He’s a cool horse,” Boyce said. “You just kind of do your best to stay out of his way. Let him do his thing.”

The typically understated Smith, in his 50th year training, had only plaudits for the compliant manner of Celtic Contender, an ungelded hotshot.

“He’s a sweetheart,” Smith said. “Being a stud horse like he is, he’ll nip at you and stuff. He’ll holler for you to come over and play with him. He’s just an all-around good horse to be around.”

Celtic Contender provided the first of two Million Day winners for Smith. Less than two hours after the Sprint, Smith sent a homebred of his own, Talking Foolish, to victory in the $100,000 Glenangus Farm Lassie for 2-year-old fillies.

*Takethemoneyhoney Makes Off with Distaff Victory

Principal owner Bob Krangel smiled about the sweet offers he’s rejected for star mare Takethemoneyhoney.

“If I sold the horse,” he said, “I’d probably have to find a new wife.”

The Krangels, Bob and Sue, found mutual delight today at a favored haven, Laurel Park. There, Takethemoneyhoney again defied time and eight challengers in dominating the $100,000 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Maryland Million Distaff.

Unraced since early March, Takethemoneyhoney acted if no time had passed. From the rail post, she moved to the lead soon after the start and commanded the outcome as she often does, finishing 5 1/2 lengths before second-place Onyx Ten.

Rerun Table, feisty and determined at 15-1, finished third. Fourth-place Violet’s Charm had a nose on Doc’s Miracle, and Slewperstitus failed to sustain a rally in a sixth-place finish as second choice.

By then, track announcer Dave Rodman had exclaimed, “Takethemoneyhoney, even money and gone!”

Michael Moore, who trains the winner at Parx, thus assessed the phenomenon. “She’s so amazing,” he said. “The way she bursts away in the stretch, you would never know she’s been off that amount of time. Every one of her races has been good to this point.”

Moore’s statement bore no hyperbole. Takethemoneyhoney, never worse than second, made the Distaff her eighth career win in 11 starts. The three exceptions came by a nose, a head and a nose, making her tantalizingly close to undefeated.

With today’s $55,000 winner’s share, Takethemoneyhoney has earned $466,770 for the Krangels’s Kasey K Racing LCC and minority partners Michael R. Day and Final Turn Racing Stable LLC. The Krangels and Final Turn sent the stakes-winning mare Goodonehoney to the stallion Golden Lad in 2020; Takethemoneyhoney was her first foal.

The dark bay mare with black blinkers and two rear ankle wraps improved to 6-for-8 at Laurel with a seven-furlong blast in 1:23.87 under Eliseo Ruiz, who’s ridden each of her races but the first.

“I know as a trainer that good horses make your job a lot easier,” Moore said.

Good owners too. The Krangels share Moore’s objective to give their star ample rest when circumstances dictate. This spring, a knee issue suggested they wait, so they sent Takethemoneyhoney to Betsy Houghton’s Sylmar Farm in Pennsylvania, where the Krangels board their small band of broodmares.

“Michael and I have been together 10 years,” Bob Krangel said. “He takes care of my money like it’s his. He takes care of the horses. He’s the most honorable friend and a hell of a trainer.”

Takethemoneyhoney fits right in, Krangel said, with her gentle, cooperative manner. And the story could get richer: Krangel said they expect Takethemoneyhoney’s half-sister, a Pennsylvania-bred by Wicked Strong, to debut on November 2 at Parx.

Given Takethemoneyhoney’s typically fragmented racing schedule, Krangel seemed uneasy about making and expressing race plans. But he remembers the mare’s nose-length defeat to Passage East in her richest start, the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes in February, and said the chance for redemption remains compelling.

*Whenigettoheaven Breaks Through in Turf Sprint

Whenigettoheaven waited three years and a couple of minutes to get a Maryland Million Turf Sprint victory at last.

No better than second in three previous Million appearances, Whenigettoheaven kept his head during a starting-gate delay, then showed his tail to nine others in a 1 3/4-length triumph over 16-1 Tidewater. World On Fire finished third at 12-1, followed by the well-bunched Blame the Tux (53-1), Jessica’s Eyes (21-1) and gray 7-5 favorite Witty, million-dollar earner and winner of the 2023 edition.

The $100,000 1/ST BET Turf Sprint began late after defending champ Had to Have Him (5-1) declined to enter the starting gate as prompted. As the assistant starters tried to cajole him into the stall and time ticked away, Whenigettoheaven and seven others waited in their enclosures. For Paco Lopez, Whenigettoheaven’s rider, the strategizing had begun.

“I’m trying to calm down my horse a little bit, keep him quiet,” Lopez said Lopez, “and he did it very well today.”

For all his pre-race composure, Whenigettoheaven burst out of the gate as Lopez urged, and assumed an immediate lead on a firm Dahlia course. Even as Lopez gathered a hold, his frontrunner cut through fractions of 22.48 seconds, 45.42 and 56.88.

Blame the Tux, second-highest price in the 10-horse field, moved outside the leader on the far turn and kept at it to midstretch before the circling Tidewater, then World on Fire, passed him. Tidewater too encroached on Whenitgettoheaven in the lane but couldn’t maintain the advance, the winner clocked in 1:03.04 for 5 1/2 furlongs.

“The course wasn’t slow, but there’s a little give to it,” said Lopez, widely regarded as a turf rider of high rank. “He liked it fine.”

Two months after Whenigettoheaven finished fourth in the 2023 Turf Sprint, his first Million start for breeder Larry Johnson, owner Ken Ramsey claimed the horse for $62,500 at Gulfstream Park. Saffie Joseph Jr. served as trainer for two starts, then yielded to Nolan Ramsey, the owner’s grandson.

Back in Maryland, Whenigettoheaven won his first start for Nolan Ramsey, then became a stakes winner next out in the 2024 Ben’s Cat at Laurel Park. That fall, Whenigettoheaven finished fifth in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint at 9-5; he was second last year at 11-10, three-quarters of a length behind Had to Have Him.

Off as second choice today, Whenigettoheaven returned $5.40 and added $55,000 to his bankroll, now at $599,210 over 35 starts. He has three stakes victories and nine overall.

The post No Rerouting Celtic Contender in Maryland Million Sprint first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

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.

The post Mopo Continues Capuano Legacy With Maryland Million Ladies Win first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.

LAUREL, MD—Trainer Jamie Ness entered Friday with 246 victories this year, second in the nation behind Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. He won two more races this afternoon at Laurel Park, including the featured eighth race, a $62,500 optional claimer for juvenile fillies at one mile.

Silver Strings dominated the group under Mychel Sanchez, but it wasn’t the margin of victory (9 ½ lengths) or the fact that the gray filly was stepping up sharply in class in her first start of the claim.

Instead, it was the winning mutuel payout.

Silver Springs returned $64.40 as the longest shot on the tote board, the highest-priced winner saddled by Ness this year, well ahead of Biz Whiz’s 14-1 score at Delaware Park on the Fourth of July.

Silver Strings, a $29,000 yearling buyback, was bred in Maryland by Dark Hollow Farm and Hillwood Stable. By first-crop stallion Nashville out of Silver Sides (by Bandbox), Silver Strings began her career over the summer at Colonial Downs with trainer Brittany Russell, finishing off the board in two starts against maiden special weight company.

Russell then shipped Silver Strings to Laurel, dropped her into a maiden claiming race, and the lightbulb went on. She rated off the pace under Sanchez, then drew away to win by 12 ½ lengths.

Ness wasn’t about to let Silver Strings get away, however. He filled out a claim slip for his Jagger Inc. stable and, in partnership with Morris Kernan Jr., claimed the filly for $30,000.

Friday’s race marked a significant step up in class, but Sanchez felt confident going into the paddock. “She came out of a very impressive race last time, and I had the opportunity to work her for the first time in the morning for Jamie. I told him that I thought we deserved a shot to step it up because she came out of the race unbelievable. [It was a] great work,” Sanchez said.

Silver Strings took no prisoners from the start. She immediately grabbed the early lead and set honest fractions of 23.87 and 46.98 seconds, prompted by favored Hidden Rhythm.

Silver Strings shook off that foe after a six-furlong clocking of 1:12.98 and wasn’t threatened thereafter, streaking to the wire in 1:38.31 over the fast track.

I’m With Her finished half a length ahead of Hidden Rhythm. U Better Kiss Me rallied mildly to fourth, with Witchy Vibes, Urgent Claire, and My Hometown Gal following. Souper Athlete was eased. Marblehead scratched.

“Super easy,” Sanchez said. “I felt we put in some honest pace, too. I expected to be on the lead because I came from shorter races, but I was confident all the way.”

Silver Strings has earned $60,085 in purse money. Sanchez believes the best may be yet to come.

“[She has a] great mind,” he said. “She does everything I want her to do, and she does everything smooth. I think we might have an okay horse here.”

*Around the track:

Live racing resumes Saturday for “Maryland’s Day at the Races,” the Jim McKay Maryland Million. Gates open at 10 am ET, the special first post time is 11:15 AM ET, and two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout. The program features eight stakes races. For race advances, visit here.

The Jim McKay Maryland Million is also about fun for the whole family. Meet and greet the Maryland Miniature Ponies at Horseland, watch exciting pony races featuring the next generation of Maryland jockeys, visit our face painters, and enjoy plenty of hands-on crafts and games.

Take part in the Maryland Million Handicapping Challenge, a one-day contest available both on-site and online. The event is held at Laurel Park or on Xpressbet, TVG/4NJBETS, HPIBET, and TwinSpires. The $800 buy-in includes a $400 entry fee and a $400 live bankroll. Cash prizes will be awarded, along with two seats to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge and two NHC Prize Packs. With 120 entries, the total prize pool is $48,000. For registration and rules, visit here.

Named for the late Hall of Fame broadcaster and 13-time Emmy Award winner who launched the groundbreaking concept in 1986, the Jim McKay Maryland Million has become the state’s second-largest day on the racing calendar, behind only the Preakness Stakes card.

“Maryland’s Day at the Races” celebrates the stallions standing in the state and honors its rich, diverse racing history, dating back to the founding of the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743 and spawning copycat events across the United States and Canada.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. The Saturday guide is available. Click here to view it.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show, tomorrow morning at 10 AM ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.

The post Silver Strings Pulls Upset in Friday Feature first appeared on Maryland Jockey Club.