REGAL SOLO ROMPS IN MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---Trainer Damon Dilodovico waited until this morning to declare Regal Solo from the Maryland Million Turf, which allowed him to go in the $150,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Classic instead. His decision was fortuitous as Regal Solo, third in last year’s Classic, came barreling down the stretch to win the marquee event on Maryland’s Day at the Races at Laurel Park.
The Maryland Million is the second-most important racing day in the state after the Preakness with 11 races for runners sired by Maryland-based stallions for combined purses totaling $1.05 million. The 25th annual event drew a crowd of 23,367, ninth best in the history of the event, on a picture perfect fall afternoon. Attendance figures have exceeded 20,000 on twenty-one occasions.
Sheldon Russell, who won two other Maryland Million races earlier on the day, was in the irons on the 5-year old son of Preakness winner Louis Quatorze. Claimed for $40,000 last year, Regal Solo has won three times for his present connections including the Jennings Handicap last year. As a 2-year old in 2007, while in the Linda Albert stable, he won the Maryland Million Nursery.
The pace of the Classic was pedestrian, as longshot Movin’ Out led the field around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch. Post time favorite In The Juice and 9-year-old warrior Cuba raced in close pursuit, while Regal Solo was content to travel at the back of the field. Russell kept his mount tucked in behind them all, then sent him wide around the turn and widest into the stretch, where he catapulted to the lead and pulled away to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Not Abroad finished second, Regal Warrior was third.
“We had to go to plan B because he did not break sharply from the gate,” said Russell. “He gave me a particularly good race, though, and sat comfortably around the entire track. We had to be a bit cautionary going around because the ground had been somewhat wet all day. All I had to do was keep out of trouble and when I let out a notch, he really took off for me. He was a lot sharper at the end then I thought he might be.”
Regal Solo paid $13.40. The exacta came back $36 and the triple paid $188.80.
“I thought we could get the job done here,” said Dilodovico, who has five Maryland Million victories, all off the claim. “We’ve been pointing for this race. Had a couple setbacks with this horse in the spring but he’s come on lately. We went back to last year when he ran third. I was happy with last year. We just needed to tweak a few things, although I was a little concerned with the distance. We didn’t know what to expect so we told Sheldon to be ready for anything. When he was settling, with a ton of horse, as close as he was, I felt good about it. If he had done anything careless early, the horse would have taken off with him.”
After Regal Warrior came In the Juice, and 2008 Classic winner Cuba. Movin’ Out was pulled up by jockey Eric Camacho and did not finish.
Nick Petro (jockey, Not Abroad) said, “We saved ground and I was more worried about the seven (Regal Warrior) than I was the five (Regal Solo). I figure the longer I waited the better shot I had to win. I was very happy today. He tried hard and he finished up well.”
Julian Pimentel (jockey, Regal Warrior) said, “I thought he ran really well. There was no pace. He was very eager to go and I am happy with how he ran, a 3-year-old against older horses.”
Oliver Castillo (jockey, In The Juice) said, “When Julian (Pimentel on Regal Warrior) moved I let out the reins but he flattened out. No excuses.”
Elvis Trujillo (jockey, Cuba) said, “We were laying second. The horse was going along good. He just couldn’t keep up but he tried.”
Eric Camacho (jockey, Movin’ Out) said, “He was running hard but just shut down. I had to check him slightly when they went by us and he just turned it off immediately. He went from on to off. I knew there wasn’t any speed in the race so I tried to go to the front from the one-hole and take a chance.”
Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million has been duplicated by 22 other states. Hall of Fame TV Broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the Maryland Million concept and remained the Chairman of the Board until his death on June 7, 2008.
Country music sensation James Otto held a special concert in-between the fifth and sixth races. The 37-year-old performed for 40 minutes, singing his 2007 number one single “Just Got Started Lovin You” and his current chart-climbing single “Groovy Little Summer Song”.
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SILVER HEART SCORES IN MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---Nancy Terhune’s Silver Heart took the finale on Maryland Million day when an opposing rider misjudged the finish on Serenadia, allowing Silver Heart go by unopposed in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap.
Ricardo Chiappe drove to the lead aboard Serenadia, the defending champion, a furlong from the finish and then stood up in the mistaken belief that the race was over. By the time he realized his error, Silver Heart and jockey Travis Dunkelberger had rolled by and were on their way to victory. Serenadia drifted home second and Profit finished third.
Silver Heart, a daughter of Lion Heart trained by Gary Capuano, came from far back and won by ¾’s of a length in 1:39.31. She paid $8.
“The main thing was to get her to settle because that second finish line is a long way away,” said Dunkelberger. “She broke good and we shuffled back about 10 to 15 lengths. We started picking up horses off the turn and it was a clear shot to the line.”
Dunkelberger and Gary Capuano teamed up to win the Maryland Million Nursery, earlier on the card.
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MY SWEET NENANA PULLS $119 SHOCKER IN MARYLAND MILLION LADIES
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---Daniel T. O’Ryan’s My Sweet Nenana sprung an upset in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Ladies, leading from start to finish at odds of $58.50-1. The win payout was the largest in the 25-year history of the Maryland Million, $30 more than Missy White Oak in the 1991 Lassie.
Last year, the daughter of Jazz Club finished second in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap at odds of 67-1. This was just her second attempt on the grass and second start under apprentice Christopher Ho, who was winning his first stakes, as was My Sweet Nenana. Owner O’Ryan also conditions the daughter of Jazz Club at the Bowie Training Center.
“We planned to make the lead and sit there on an easy pace,” said Ho. “The last time on turf, which was her first time, she ran real good for us but we just didn’t get the position we wanted. This time we got to the rail. This filly likes to lay on other horses when she’s outside.”
Jockey Ho outfoxed his eight opponents when My Sweet Nenana skipped to an easy lead. The remaining riders decided to back off the pacesetter, but when they finally came after her, the Not For Love filly spurted away. She won by four lengths in 1:54.67 for the nine furlong distance over the good turf. Love’s Blush finished second and Amelia’s Brio was third.
“I told Chris to try to take the lead if possible,” said O’Ryan. “He rides just about all of my horses and he knows them all very well. When he got to the mile and he was riding easy, I knew that we had a good shot. Everything just seemed to come together for us today.”
O’Ryan, who saddled Toboggan Slide to victory in the 2009 Maryland Million Nursery, did not have a winner in Maryland this year until Matanuska Passion won Friday’s second race.
Defending champion Talkin About Love finished seventh.
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BALTIMORE BELLE TRIUMPHS IN MARYLAND MILLION OAKS
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---With a million dollar ride on Maryland Million day, Vladimir Diaz guided Baltimore Belle to a 3-1/4 length victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Oaks.
Robert Gerczak & Kaygar Stable’s Baltimore Belle was winning for the third time in a row in this one mile test for 3-year-old fillies. The J.B. Secor trainee sat behind a trio of battling leaders through the far turn, then slipped by on the inside and drove to victory in 1:38.35 over post time favorite Lil Kiara. Kincoralyn finished third, five lengths behind the runner-up.
“My filly put herself in a perfect spot along the rail,” said Diaz. “It was my job to stay clear of trouble and follow the eight horse. My filly has a lot of confidence to squeeze through that tight hole. A lot of other horses would have shied away from that.”
Baltimore Belle paid $8.60. The daughter of Bowman’s Band has a 8-4-3-0 record this year.
“We were certainly concerned on the turn when there was nowhere to go and we were trapped on the rail,” said Secor. “Fortunately, a small hole opened and my jockey took her through very smoothly.”
Secor took over the reins of the Gerczak & Kaygar runners when former trainer Carlos Garcia retired last December. The Garcia barn won this race two years ago with Miss Charm City. She was also a daughter of Bowman’s Band.
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POCKET PATCH PREVAILS IN MARYLAND MILLION TURF
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----Charles McGill’s Pocket Patch finished off-the-board in this race last year but proved to be better than that when he scored his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Turf today at Laurel Park.
Tracking the leader all the way around in the nine furlong contest, Pocket Patch and Jonathan Joyce edged by Eighttofasttocatch at the top of the lane and drew off to win by 3-1/2 lengths. Ham and Ernie rallied very late to nail Eighttofasttocatch for second.
“Jonathan did a great job of getting him relaxed,” said Flint Stites, who conditions Pocket Patch at the Bowie Training Center. “It was a perfect ride, exactly what I wanted. In the past he’s been slow getting off, he gets behind, he has to check. Today most of the speed was way outside.”
The winner, a son of Partner’s Hero, stopped the timer in 1:52.30 and paid $14.
“He was very comfortable after the break,” said Joyce. “I had a good hold on him down the backside. He rated good off the leader and when I asked him to go he had it. When horses come to him, he really tells you where he is. I’m glad I could get this for Flint Stites.”
Stites and Joyce teamed up last year to win the Maryland Million Distaff with All Giving.
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JACK ON THE ROCKS BATTLES BACK TO WIN MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----Funky Munky Stable LLC’s Jack On the Rocks led into deep stretch, lost the lead but then surged back to win the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park.
Under smart handling by jockey Sheldon Russell, aboard for his second winner of the afternoon, Jack On The Rocks sprinted to a half-length victory in 1:09.85 for the six furlong distance. A very gutsy Celtic Innis appeared to be a winner a 1/16th of a mile out before Jack On The Rocks made one more thrust for the front.
“This horse was very game today,” Russell said. “I was really pleased Gary brought him down from New York for this race. He went 7/8ths last out and he came up just a little short. I wasn’t concerned today when the horse came up to me in the stretch because my horse was still running at full speed and as we continued on the other horse didn’t.”
Jack On The Rocks ($8.20), an offspring of Outflanker who is trained by Gary Gullo in New York, was winning for the first time in a stakes. He had shipped to Laurel from Belmont Park for his previous start, finishing a game second to Maryland Million Classic morning line favorite In The Juice two weeks ago.
“The horse that ran second tried his heart out, gave his all, and I almost had a heart attack,” Gullo said. “My horse got beat that way one time at Saratoga but he kept going today. I thought we’d be out there racing at the front but I thought Roaring Lion would be the one out there. He’s based at Belmont and I brought him down here before just to give him a race over the track. I thought we came down to win but it didn’t quite happen last time.”
It was another outstanding Maryland Million effort by Celtic Innis in his 45th and likely final start of his career. The Tim Keefe trainee won this race in 2008 and was second in 2006 and 2009. The 8-year-old son of Yarrow Brae is nine-for-38 with 27 in the money finishes at the 6-furlong distance and now has earnings of $648,638.
“It was a great effort,” Keefe said. “He is a cool horse and means everything to our barn. We have had him since he was a 2-year-old and he always tries. He’s just a notch below a really good horse but inside he thinks he’s a classic winner. That’s why he has made $650,000. He thinks he is that good. We think this will be his last race, maybe something at the end of the year but this is probably it.”
Roaring Lion, the 1-2 betting favorite and defending champion, broke behind the leaders and despite a rally, could finish no closer than third.
“No excuses,” said Elvis Trujillo, who rode Roaring Lion. He broke okay. Everything was fine. He got behind. He was moving up nicely, just couldn’t catch the winner going down the stretch.”
BEN’S CAT REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT SCORE
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---The Jim Stable’s Ben’s Cat made it six-for-six with a convincing score in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Turf Sprint.
A maiden claiming winner in May at Pimlico, Ben’s Cat has now reeled off six victories, including two stakes, the last two coming over the turf. Ben’s Cat was bred by King Leatherbury, who is also his owner and trainer. Julian Pimentel has been aboard for five of his six trips to the winners’ circle.
“This is a phenomenal horse who just runs,” said Pimentel. “He broke good and I had a good hold of him all the way around. At the quarter pole I just let him go. Turf, dirt, it doesn’t matter, he just runs.”
Out of Parker’s Storm Cat, Ben’s Cat’s debut was delayed by a broken pelvis and the 4-year-old did not make his debut until four months ago.
“I hoped we’d break well and told the jock to use his judgment and to do what was logical,” Leatherbury said. “I wasn’t very confident until he started to draw away, then he looked really good when he went by us.”
Leatherbury moved into a second place tie in the Maryland Million trainer standings with his eighth victory, one behind Dale Capuano. It was his first win at the event in nine years.
Ben’s Cat ran the 5-1/2 furlong distance over the good turf in 1:05.54 and paid $4.60. In his wake at the finish were If Not For Lust and Sandbaggin’ Lover, who finished second and third, respectively.
The race featured two former winners. Kosmo’s Buddy, the 2008 first place finisher, finished fourth, while defending champion Natural Seven was next to last.
Prior to the fourth race, Leatherbury was presented the John Galbreath Award by the University of Louisville. The only other trainer to receive the honor, which is for outstanding entrepreneurship in the equine industry, is Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. The 77-year-old ranks third on the all-time win list with 6,304 career wins.
BLIND DATE POUNCES IN MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----William Backer’s Blind Date rallied four wide down the stretch and caught 3-10 favorite Love That Dance just before the finish line to win the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Distaff.
Sent to post as the second choice in the wagering under jockey Sheldon Russell, Blind Date was turning the tables on Love That Dance, who beat her by a head in last year’s Maryland Million Oaks. This time the margin of victory was a half-a-length, her winning time was 1:28.82 for the seven furlong distance and her win payoff was $13.
“Our concern going into the race was the seven furlongs because this is a really big filly, so her style was going to make this race a little bit too short,” said Russell. “The pace has been setting up very well today and we were going into the race sharp. As we went along I thought that we would get up in time.”
Blind Date, who finished third in the Maryland Million Lassie two years ago, is trained by Hamilton Smith.
“These are two nice fillies. I knew that was the horse we had to beat,” said Smith. “I am pleased with how she’s been doing. We tried her on the turf and the dirt and she seemed to take to the dirt a little better. I knew she’d be far back at the start. She’s not a sprinter by any means. She’s almost 17 hands and she comes on and made it very exciting.”
The win was the fourth on Maryland’s Day At The Races for Smith and the first for Russell, Laurel’s second leading rider.
Blind Date won four stakes races during her 3-year-old campaign a year ago, including the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks, but she had not visited the winners’ circle since taking the Pearl Necklace Stakes here in August 2009.
Defending champion All Giving finished sixth.
NORTHPOINT COSTAS TAKES MARYLAND MILLION STARTER HANDICAP
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10---Trainer Dale Capuano scratched Northpoint Costas from today’s Maryland Million Classic to run in the $50,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Starter Handicap. His instincts were correct as Rob Ry Farm & Jayne Marie Slysz’ chestnut gelding pulled away to win as the even money favorite.
Elvis Trujillo was aboard Northpoint Costas for the first time in the one mile test. They broke alertly and dueled with runner-up Hill Crossing before edging away in the drive to win by three lengths. Let Me Be Frank showed late interest to miss second by just a nose.
“He is a fun horse who always tries hard,” Capuano said. “I considered the Classic, but at a mile and an eighth it’s just a little too far. I wasn’t concerned at all that the one horse went to the lead. Elvis had a good hold on him and he likes to tug at the bit.”
The win moves Capuano ahead of Bill Boniface and into the top spot among Maryland Million trainers. The 47-year-old has nine Maryland Million scores.
Northpoint Costas completed the distance in 1:38.91 and paid $4. A four time winner this year, the Bowman’s Band offspring won the Deputed Testamony Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Day.
STEADY WARRIOR STROLLS HOME IN MARYLAND MILLION NURSERY
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----Like father like son, ZWP Stable, Inc. & Non Stop Stable’s Steady Warrior captured today’s $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Nursery, just as his sire Cherokee’s Boy accomplished in 2002.
Trained by Gary Capuano and ridden by Travis Dunkelberger, Steady Warrior had the easiest of times this afternoon, leaving the gate as the 1-5 favorite, then stalking, circling and disposing with token pace opposition before drawing away to win by 7-1/4 lengths in 1:11.18 for the six furlong distance. Skip The Trial came home a distant second and Lovetofinishfirst was another three lengths back third.
“I had to get after him on the far turn a bit because he was looking out at his barn,” said Dunkelberger. “When I straightened out it really was as easy as I wanted. He tried hard and ran very well today.”
Steady Warrior paid $2.20 in winning just his second lifetime start. He broke his maiden against Special Weight company at Delaware Park two weeks ago.
“They were sitting in a perfect spot,” said Capuano.”I originally told Travis to try not to use his speed but that it was there if he needed it. Travis gave him a perfect, stalking ride and was able to get it.”
Cherokee’s Boy was 19-of-48 in his career for ZWP Stable (Foard Wilgis and Dave Picarello) and earned $1,177,946. He now stands at Murmur Farm in Darlington.
Only one other previous winner has sired a Maryland Million winner. Awad, who captured the Turf in 1993, was the father of Let Me Be Frank, who was victorious in the 2008 Starter Handicap.
DOING GREAT UPSETS TWELVE PACK SHELLY IN MARYLAND MILLION LASSIE
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----R. Larry Johnson’s Doing Great stood up to 1-5 favorite Twelve Park Shelly and beat her in the drive to win in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Lassie at Laurel Park, the first of 11 stakes races on the card.
Under steady urging by jockey Julian Pimentel, the Great Notion filly completed the six-furlong distance in 1:12.06 and won by a half-length. Twelve Pack Shelly, who led from the start and was looking for her third straight stakes win and her fifth victory in seven starts, held on narrowly to remain second as Love’s Reason rallied furiously to finish third.
“The two horse was the one to beat,” said Pimentel. “We were going pretty fast that opening quarter and we were tight all the way down to the finish. Those two were very nice fillies running hard today.”
Mike Trombetta trains Doing Great, who had romped in her only start against claiming maidens at Monmouth Park on September 11. She paid $23.60 and topped a $40.80 exacta and $54.40 trifecta.
“My instructions to Julian were if nobody entertains the favorite, it’s going to be your job, because if nobody did we had no chance,” said Trombetta. “If somebody else had gone out she’d have sat third and stalked, but I knew if she (Twelve Pack Shelly) got a soft first quarter nobody would have pushed her at all. She was ready in her first start. It fit well time wise as preparation for this one. This race tells us she is a lot better than we originally expected.”
The favorite, who in her debut on Apr. 8 shattered the Laurel Park track record at 4 ½ furlongs stopping the clock in 50.83 seconds, ran a credible race according to her trainer and co-owner John Salzman, Jr.
“She ran good today,” Salzman said. “She just got second. I have no excuse. We’ll wait six or eight weeks and probably run her back in a stakes at Penn National.”
The victory is the third on Maryland Million day for Trombetta. Spectacular Malibu captured the Lassie in 2006 and the Distaff two years later for the Baltimore native.
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