LAUREL, MD. 10-06-12---Liz Merryman joined her siblings as a winning trainers on Maryland Million day when Ellendale Racing’s Roadhog powered to victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Turf at Laurel Park.

Merryman joins her brother Edwin and sisters Ann Merryman and Katy Voss who have all been to the winners’ circle at least once on Maryland’s Day at the Races. Edwin won earlier on the card with Jazzy Idea in the Oaks.

“This is a great feeling because I am a Maryland bred,” Merryman said. “This horse is a complete alpha male. He has to go out first every day and he refuses to go back in if he doesn’t get enough grass. He loves to run at other horses so he picks out a couple and says I’m going to stalk this one and that one.”

Roadhog, a Bowman’s Band gelding ridden by Horacio Karamanos, proved to be best in the nine furlong test, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over Change of Command, with Pasta Lover a late closing third. Roadhog paid $5.40 as he completed the distance in 1:47.15 over the firm turf.

“Early he kept wanting to go but I kind of had to keep him back so we had something at the end,” said Karamanos. “We bobbled early just like last time at Parx. There we just got beat. Here I followed Julian outside (on Change of Command) and stayed out and was wide open. He was real good.”
 

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.