LAUREL, MD. 10-16-14---Twenty-nine horses have won more than one Maryland Million event. Seven former winners are entered Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park, including three runners looking for repeat victories: Eighttofasttocatch (Classic), Monster Sleeping (Ladies) and Roadhog (Turf).

Roadhog will do battle with Ben’s Cat and 10 others

in the $125,000 Turf (race 9). Last year, the son of Bowman’s Band rallied to beat Ben’s Cat by a neck for his second consecutive victory in the race. 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 the 3-1 second choice on Keith Feustle’s morning line.

“He is coming into the race in good shape but I am concerned about the weather,” Merryman said. “He really prefers a firm turf course even though he won it last year when it was rated good. He came out of the gate in great shape last year, which helped my confidence. He loved the course that day and I am hoping for the same thing Saturday but am very nervous.”

After initially thinking that Ben’s Cat would run in the $100,000 Sprint, owner/trainer King Leatherbury decided to runthe son of Parker’s Storm Cat back in the Turf for the second consecutive year. One of the top turf sprinters in the country, the 8-year-old is 27-of-43 lifetime, with 17 stakes victories on the turf, for earnings of $2,175,990. Ben’s Cat is the 8-5 morning line favorite.

“I am disappointed Ben’s Cat went in the Turf,” added Merryman. “It is going to be a pretty competitive field. There are lot of horses coming in off good form and doing really well. Loves Last Chance, Change of Command and Talk Show Man are going to be tough. Willy D’Rocket ran a beautiful race in his last start. His numbers aren’t as high but he beat some good horse that day. Dancing Lounge is no slough.”

Ben’s Cat (Turf Sprint-2010-2011-2012) is one of five horses to win three times on Maryland Million day. 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 others.

Roadhog and Eighttofasttocatch have a chance to join that exclusive group Saturday.

Eighttofasttocatch is the prohibitive 3-5 morning line favorite in the $150,000 Classic (race 10), a race he won two of the last three years, including an easy 3-1/4 length score in 2013. The 8-year-old has won nine stakes races at Laurel Park for trainer Tim Keefe.

“I’m never too confident but I feel confident the way he’s coming up to the race,” Keefe said. “Maryland Million is my favorite day. You get to see everybody here in a fun atmosphere. Things are good in Maryland. Breeding is on the incline. The races are good. The purses are good. Everybody’s getting along. It’s a very exciting time.”

Monster Sleeping is looking to repeat in the $125,000 Ladies (race 5). The daughter of Oratory comes into the race off three consecutive second place finishes for Dale Capuano, including a runner-up finish in the Jameela Stakes here on September 27. Since Capuano claimed Monster Sleeping in March 2013, she has 14 in the money finishes in 19 starts.

“We took the same route to this race as we did last year, prepping with the Jameela,” Capuano said. “She is a model of consistency. Since we claimed her she has been off the board a few times and she had excuses. She shows up every time and I would expect her to do the same Saturday.”

Monster Sleeping is the 5-2 second choice in the Ladies, behind 7-5 favorite Devilish Love. 2012 Ladies winner Pagan Priestess is a 12-1 longshot.

The other previous winners on the program are Classy Coco (2012 Lassie) and Jonesin for Jerry (2013 Lassie), the top two choices in the $100,000 Distaff.

First post for the 11-race card is 12:15 p.m. Eastern.

LOOKING FOR LUCKY INELIGIBLE FOR LASSIE

Looking For Lucky, a 2-year-old filly entered in the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie yesterday, was ruled ineligible for the race by Maryland Million officials.

“We have no record that the stallion, Fleet Foot, was nominated for the 2011 breeding season for his 2012 foals,” Maryland Million executive director Cricket Goodall said.

Looking For Lucky will be scratched off the program, leaving a dozen runners in the 6-furlong 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.