LAUREL, MD. 10-06-12---Joey P Stables’ Varborough won the closing event on the eleven race Maryland Million card, the $50,000 Starter Handicap at Laurel Park.

Second choice in the wagering as twelve runners went to post, Varborough and jockey Jeremy Rose stalked the pace and then moved with authority to take on Devilish Gate in a battle to the finish line. Varborough proved best, winning by a length and finishing the one mile distance in 1:38.74. Devilish Gate was second, while post time favorite Gully finished third.

Jerry Robb trains the son of Outflanker, who was winning for the sixth time in sixteen starts.

“As a trainer, I always look forward to Maryland Million day,” said Robb. “These races are always tough to win. The owner called me this week from Philly where he races and said send him down here for the Maryland Million. Luckily he did. It looked tougher than it was. Jeremy says he was kind of loafing early, then he got to business.”

“I didn’t have to do too much riding on that one,” said Rose. “He’s pretty classy all the way around. He gave me a good feeling warming up. That long stretch keeps the horse focused and I never felt the two horse was going to beat me.”

Rose now has 15 Maryland Million victories, fourth on the all-time list, trailing only Ramon Dominguez (17), Edgar Prado (16) and Mario Pino (16).
 

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.