Spartianos Prevails in $125,000 Maryland MillionTurf Blanket Finish
Spartianos Prevails in $125,000 Maryland MillionTurf Blanket Finish
My Sistersledge Ekes Out Win in $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies
LAUREL, MD – Everything fell in place for Nik Juarez in Saturday’s $125,000 Maryland Million Turf at Laurel Park. The up-and-coming jockey knew he couldn’t have given the Spartianos a better chance of winning, but he didn’t know for sure that the gutsy 5-year-old gelding had prevailed in an exciting four-horse blanket finish until well after crossing the finish line.
“I’m galloping back and everyone was on the outside rail. I said, ‘Who won?’ They said, ‘You!’” said Juarez, recalling the first time that he knew for sure that Spartianos had held on to win.
Spartianos was the second of three Maryland Million winners Saturday for Juarez, who also guided Clever Mind for a triumph in the $100,000 Nursery and Bonus Points for a score in the $150,000 Classic.
Stretching out to a mile around two turns for the first time since finishing second in last year’s Maryland Million Turf, Spartianos ($7.60) held off a tenacious Somekindofmagician by a head. The runner-up, the 5-2 second choice ridden by Alex Cintron, finished a nose ahead of late-charging 2-1 favorite Talk Show Man, who was another nose ahead of Grandiflora.
“He was really game coming for home. When Alex Cintron’s horse came up to us, he really, really dug in,” said Juarez, noting that neither he nor Cintron knew who had won while galloping out after the furious finish.
The Michael Pino-trained gelding broke sharply and quickly opened up a two-length lead but just as quickly relaxed on the lead for Juarez and was allowed to set soft fractions of 25.05 (seconds) and 49.91 for the first mile. He showed the way along the backstretch backstretch before being engaged by Somekindofmagician on the far turn. Spartianos fought back gamely through the stretch drive as Talk Show Man, the 2014 Maryland Million Turf winner, and Grandiflora also gave chase.
“When I was going around the first turn, they were already anticipating I would be going pretty quick. I thought so too, but I was able to get him back in my hands,” Juarez said. “When I knew that first fraction was slow, I said, ‘I got it.’ The beginning of the race, when I was able to get him settled, that’s what won the race.”
Spartianos, who is owned by Two Legends Farm and Nick Sanna Stables LLC, ran a mile over a firm turf course in 1:36.84.
My Sistersledge Ekes Out Win in $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies
My Sisterledge benefited from a ground-saving, well-time trip under jockey Julian Pimentel to eke out a victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies at Laurel Park.
The 3-year-old filly ($13.20) was very much in need of a precision ride to prevail by a nose over even-money favorite Great Soul in the 1 1/8-mile turf event for fillies and mares.
The Michael Trombetta-trained 3-year-old filly, who had won just once in 10 prior starts for owners/breeders John and Cheryl Banner, proved up to the task of taking on older and more experienced rivals to earn her first stakes score.
Great Soul, who was a bit rank leaving the starting gate before settling under Ashley Castrenze, showed the way around the first turn and along the backstretch past fractions of 23.90 (seconds) and 48.32 for the first half mile. The Tom Proctor-trained favorite was challenged on the far turn by defending champion Devilish Love but inched away to take a clear lead into the stretch.
Unable to find room between the pacesetter and the stalling Devilish Love at the top of the stretch, Pimentel sent My Sistersledge inside the favorite. The daughter of Etched responded to urging and gradually wore down a most stubborn Great Soul.
My Sistersledge, who finished a fast closing second in a 5 ½-furlong turf allowance last time out, ran 1 1/8 miles over a firm turf course in 1:49.92.
“Julian did a wonderful job with her. When he dove to the inside, he just had enough,” Trombetta said. “She ran really good last time. With the stretch out today, he did a wonderful job with her.”
Great Soul finished a half-length ahead of Nickyrocksforpops, who was another 1 ¾ lengths in front of Devilish Love.
