The son of Not For Love finished off the board in his only start this year but Eighttofasttocatch has nine career stakes victories at Laurel Park. A win in the Classic would vault the Tim Keefe trainee near $1 million in career earnings. He is currently at $914,585.

“He’s coming into the race well,” Keefe said. “He’s had a lot of time off, longer than I wanted. He’s been training well.”

Keefe indicated his Laurel-based star would be retired after the Jennings Handicap here on December 6.

“It’s hard when you’ve dictated a horse like this with a starting time and a finishing point and the finishing point is coming up,” added Keefe, who has four career Maryland Million wins. “It’s a little bitter sweet knowing that this is my favorite race of the year, always look forward to this and knowing that he’s just got one more after that. The saving grace is that he comes back to me. I won’t be able to see him barn 6A anymore but when I go home I’ll be able to see him.”

One race before the Classic will be the $125,000 Maryland Million Turf featuring a rematch between defending champion Roadhog and runner-up Ben’s Cat.

Roadhog has a win and three second place finishes in six starts this year for trainer Lizzie Merryman. The 7-year-old son of Bowman’s Band is 10-of-35 lifetime with earnings over $600,000.

After victories three straight years (2010-2011-2012) in the Turf Sprint, Ben’s Cat finished second by a neck behind Roadhog a year ago in the Turf after the Turf Sprint was eliminated. After initially thinking that Ben’s Cat would run in the $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint, owner/trainer King Leatherbury decided to runthe son of Parker’s Storm Cat back in the Turf for the second consecutive year.

“All I had were the past performances. After I got my sheets, the turf race seems to be an easier race,” Leatherbury said. “He’s (Roadhog) not as good as last year, I don’t think.”

Ben’s Cat is 27-of-43 lifetime, including 17 stakes victories on the turf for earnings of $2,175,990, but is coming into the race off a disappointing third place finish in the Laurel Dash three weeks ago.

“The last race was very disappointing to me,” added the 81-year old conditioner. “A lot of times you run third and you’re happy to get third, but not when you expect to win. Even though he ran a nice race, I was disappointed. It worries me a little bit. Usually he runs better than I think he will.”

Hall of Famer Safely Kept (Distaff-1989-90-91), Countus In (Ladies-1989-90-91), Mz. Zill Bear (Ladies-1993-94-95) and Docent (Sweepstakes-2001 & Classic-2002-03) are the only other runners to win three times on Maryland Million day. Eighttofasttocatch and Roadhog can join the exclusive club Saturday.

The third horse looking to repeat is Monster Sleeping in the $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies. Trainer Dale Capuano is tied with Leatherbury atop the Maryland Million standings with 10 wins.

Here is a capsule of the other races on Saturday’s program. A more detailed advance on the Maryland Million undercard will be produced Thursday:

$100,000 Nursery (1^st race)

Eight 2-year-olds are entered, including Bullheaded Boy from the powerful Todd Pletcher stable as well as Golden Years and Markakis, who both won first-time out.

$100,000 Distaff (2^nd race)

2012 Lassie winner Classy Coco and 2013 Lassie winner Jonesin for Jerry top a field of eight fillies and mares.

$50,000 Maiden (3^rd race)

Thirteen fillies and mares are entered in a 1 1/16 mile test on the turf course.

$100,000 Sprint (4^th race)

Eight sprinters are entered including 2013 General George Handicap (G3) winner Javerre.

$125,000 Ladies (5^th race)

Ten fillies and mares are expected, including defending champion Monster Sleeping and 2012 winner Pagan Priestess.

$50,000 Starter Handicap (6^th race)

Wide-open affair includes Regal Warrior, who finished third in the 2010 Classic, and Lunar Rock, who won a handicap race for Maryland-breds on Black-Eyed Susan Day.

$50,000 Maiden (7^th race)

Fifteen horses are entered in a 1 1/16 mile test on the turf course.

$100,000 Lassie (8^th race)

Thirteen 2-year-old fillies are entered, including Selima Stakes winner Miss Bullistic

$125,000 Turf (9^th race)

In addition to Roadhog and Ben’s Cat, the 12-horse field features 2012 runner-up Change of Command and stakes placed Talk Show Man.

$50,000 Distaff Starter Handicap (11^th race)

Fifteen fillies and mares are entered in the one-mile test on the main track.

MARYLAND’S DAY AT THE RACES

Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million, a program of races restricted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions, has been duplicated by more than 20 other states. Maryland-sired Thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. After twenty-eight runnings, 222 stallions have been represented in Maryland Million races.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the concept and remained Chairman of the Board until his death six years ago. Twenty-two times attendance figures have topped 20,000 for the event.

The first 4,000 full-paid admissions and Maryland-licensed owners and trainers will each receive a free Maryland Million Sport Cap. On-track entertainment between races will include two pony races, Special Olympics Maryland, Suttler Clydesdales, Goshen Foxhounds, Side Saddle Ladies, and Roman and Trick Riding by Rachel Jackson.

HRTV will have a live presence for the entire card with hosts Dick Jerardi and Caton Bredar on site.

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.