LAUREL, MD. 10-06-12---Heavy favorite Bold Affair was first away at the start and geared down closing in on the finish line after a dominating performance in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Distaff at Laurel Park.

Abel Castellano was merely a passenger as the 4-year old daughter of Two Punch, who is owned by Charles Reed and Mike Zanella and trained by Howard Wolfendale, completed the seven furlong distance in 1:24.52, winning by 13-1/4 lengths over Silver Heart.  Brushed By Love finished third.

“She tries hard every time I get up on her back,” said Castellano. “I didn’t think she would be in front today. There was another speed horse in the race I thought could be in front early, but I found myself on the lead. I just tried to keep her relaxed and happy and save something for the end but I turned back and looked and there was no one around. She did this all on her own today. This was a huge effort on her part.”

Bold Affair, who captured the Conniver, Primonetta and Skipat Stakes in a little over a two month period this spring, paid $2.40.

“The race went very well,” said Wolfendale. “Sometimes she’s a little bit slow getting away but she broke with them at least this time. There were a few inside horses that had a little bit of speed, but I said if she broke sharp and you don’t have to use her too much, just get position. She just kept opening up. I was thinking, ‘slow her down just a little bit’ but he must have known how much horse that he had.”

This was the third Maryland Million victory for both Wolfendale and Castellano.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.