Talk Show Man Denies History in Maryland Million Turf
Talk Show Man Denies History in Maryland Million Turf
My Sistersledge Defends Title in Maryland Million Ladies
LAUREL, MD – Blocked by a wall of horses for nearly six furlongs, Dr. Michael Harrison’s Talk Show Man found room on the far outside turning for home and used the length of the stretch to run down favored Phlash Phelps for a half-length victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Maryland Million Turf at Laurel Park.
The one-mile Turf for 3-year-olds and up and the $125,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 3 and older were among seven stakes and four starter stakes that helped comprise the 33rd Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, the groundbreaking concept named for the late Hall of Fame broadcaster that debuted in 1986.
Talk Show Man’s victory kept 3-5 favorite Phlash Phelps from becoming the first horse to win the Turf three times and just the seventh to win for a third time in Maryland Million history. It was the second Turf win for Talk Show Man, who also finished first in 2014.
“They looked like the two best horses in the race on paper, and it proved to be just that. It was very exciting,” winning trainer Hamilton Smith said. “To beat Phlash Phelps, he’s a pretty dang nice horse. They had him ready, as well. We’re very happy, I’ll tell you that.”
Talk Show Man ($8) finished up in 1:38.64 over a yielding All Along turf course to give Smith his eighth career Maryland Million victory and jockey Jevian Toledo his third on the day and second in a stakes, following the $100,000 Sprint aboard Lewisfield.
“This is a nice horse. He always tries. He’s all horse. This year, he’s feeling better than ever,” Toledo said. “I rode him a few years ago and last year as well; this year he feels [much] better. When I hit him with the left hand, I knew it was over. He was running so much, I said, ‘He’s going to get there.’”
The early pace was set by 25-1 long shot Grandiflora, who went the first quarter-mile in 25.23 seconds and the half in 49.81 pressed by No Bull Addiction with Phlash Phelps in the clear four wide and Talk Show Man and Toledo biding their time saving ground from their inside post.
Grandiflora and No Bull Addiction continued to battle into the stretch as Phlash Phelps got his cue from jockey Victor Carrasco and Toledo followed their move by tipping Talk Show Move to the far outside. Phlash Phelps, who broke a step slow from the far outside post, forged a short lead past the sixteenth pole but Talk Show Man continued to gain ground in the middle of the track to get up in the final strides.
“I told my jockey in the paddock and he knew that the last few days with all the wet weather we’ve had that speed’s been holding pretty well and you can’t be too far off. We didn’t like the post position we had but we were hoping we could overcome it,” Smith said. “I told him to try and work him out down the backside or whenever he could, but he couldn’t get him out at all until late around the turn. The kid rode a fantastic race. I give him a lot of credit for what he did today.”
Talk Show Man was racing for just the second time this year after a 10-month break between races. In his lone previous start, he came from far back to be fourth, beaten three lengths, in the six-furlong Laurel Dash Sept. 22, also contested over a yielding surface.
The win was the eighth from 36 career starts for Talk Show Man, boosting his bankroll to $453,306. He also won the Henry S. Clark Stakes in 2015.
“He’s been one of the soundest horses I’ve ever trained. The owner wanted to give him some time and he deserved it. When he came back he just kind of cramped up and wasn’t hitting the ground right and we don’t know what it was,” Smith said. “We sent him back home and they turned him out in the paddock and left him alone and he kind of took care of himself.
“I’m very, very pleased. We worked with him for two years to get him back to this level and he ran great today,” he added. “I don’t get excited too many times, but I was pretty excited today.”
My Sistersledge Defends Title in Maryland Million Ladies
John and Cheryl Banner’s homebred My Sistersledge swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and fended off a challenge from 60-1 long shot My Vixen in the final sixteenth to earn her second straight victory in the $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies.
Favored at 3-5 in the field of nine, My Sistersledge ($3.20) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.74 over a yielding Dahlia turf course to win by a neck. Stablemate Magician’s Vanity was third, 1 ¼ lengths behind My Vixen, who was making her stakes debut in her 22nd start.
It was the second straight win and third in four starts for My Sistersledge, giving trainer Mike Trombetta his eighth career Maryland Million victory and jockey Julian Pimentel his 12th. He later won No. 13 with Follow the Dog in the $100,000 Nursery.
My Vixen led through a quarter-mile in 24.12 seconds and a half in 49.48 tracked by Love’s Legend and Hot Friesia with Magician’s Vanity saving ground inside. My Sistersledge began to pick it up in the clear four wide around the far turn, forging a short lead and holding off a stubborn My Vixen through the lane.
“I felt such pride last year and I was hoping I’d be able to feel that again this year. It’s very special,” Cheryl Banner said. “She’s just a blessing. She’s brought us great joy.”
My Sistersledge won last year’s Ladies by a nose in a 5-1 upset over even-money favorite Great Soul. The 4-year-old filly by Etched out of the Miesque’s Son mare Blushing Bride owns six wins from 20 career starts and is 4-1-3 from eight lifetime tries on the Laurel turf.
