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Maryland Million: Cynergy’s Star Tests Streak In Nursery, Sparkle Sprinkle Looks To Shine In Lassie

Bonuccelli Racing's Cynergy's Star, a stakes winner in his most recent start nearly eight weeks ago, goes after his third consecutive victory and second in stakes company in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery at Laurel Park.

The Nursery for 2-year-olds and Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, each contested at six furlongs, are among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 36th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Highlighted by the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up, first race post time is 11:30 a.m.

Cynergy's Star, a $25,000 yearling purchase last fall at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, began his career on the grass in the five-furlong Hickory Tree Aug. 2 at Colonial Downs, finishing seventh after getting stuck down inside. He graduated in a front-running three-quarter-length triumph Aug. 14 going 5 ½ furlongs over the main track at Pimlico Race Course.

Trainer Kenny Cox wheeled Cynergy's Star back just 15 days later in the 6 ½-furlong Timonium Juvenile, where the bay Great Notion gelding forged a short lead after a half-mile and went on to win by two lengths. Great Notion ranks third all-time among Maryland Million stallions with 16 wins, three coming last year.

“There was a race at one point that I could have ran him in as a prep. It was a little earlier than I wanted to run him and I said, 'You know what? I'm sticking to what my plan was, to have him ready for this,'” Cox said. “He's as good as I can ask him, and I think he's gotten a lot better since his last race. This will be the first time he'll be able to run out of his own stall and not ship somewhere to make a start.”

Cynergy's Star has worked four times since mid-September at Laurel for his return, and will have Timonium Juvenile rider Jevian Toledo back aboard from Post 12 in a field of 16 that includes also-eligibles Al Loves Josie and We B Shackin.

“I wouldn't say he's matured, but he's definitely better than he was. His last few works were exactly how we asked him,” Cox said. “I know the last one Saturday went in 50 [seconds], but I told Jevian to go in 49 or 50 because he's pretty fit, just as a tightener and to keep him from being too sharp. The two works before that, he finished up really impressive. We had him relax early and when we let him out a notch he just kept going. In one of the works he galloped out in [1:13] that day. He's coming into the race good and I'm really happy with the way he's training right now.”

The narrow 9-2 program favorite in a wide-open Nursery is Mr. Mox, owned by Morris Kernan and trainer Jamie Ness. A gelded son of Grade 3 winner Divining Rod, who ran third behind Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the 2015 Preakness (G1), Mr. Mox debuted with a neck maiden special weight triumph July 11 at Pimlico in gate-to-wire fashion.

Purchased for $5,500 out of the same sale as Cynergy's Star, Mr. Mox went five furlongs again in an optional claimer July 21 at Delaware Park, where he was second by a neck before stepping up into stakes company in the 5 ½-furlong Rosies on the Colonial turf, running fourth. Back on the dirt and stretched out to a mile, he led from start to finish to romp by 10 ¾ lengths Sept. 20 at Delaware.

“We've been really high on this horse since we first got him. He was kind of a cheap horse and right away we could tell he was OK,” Ness said. “We got him stretched out to a mile at Delaware and he loved it. We're cutting back to six furlongs, but I think that's OK. His best races are going long but hopefully he's good enough to get it done short.

“I think he was just the best horse those days [he won]. I think there's going to be a little bit more speed in this race, which is fine,” he added. “He doesn't have to go to the lead. Maybe he will, we don't know.”

The fastest turnaround in the Nursery comes from Steven Newby's Vance Scholars, entered to run just six days after an impressive 5 ¾-length maiden claiming score going one mile at Laurel. The gelded son of Holy Boss had run at Delaware in his first two starts, running second by a head to fellow Nursery entrant Under the Radar in debut Sept. 9 and fifth in the First State Dash Sept. 25.

“He won so easily, and he went into that race real good. Six days, sometimes it's quick for some of them and sometimes they relish it. He seems the type that wouldn't mind it. He seems to feel good, so we'll play it by ear,” trainer Dale Capuano said. “We've always liked him. I knew he needed to go further. The stake was 5 ½ and it was too short for him. Three-quarters is a little bit better, but I think his best races should be at a distance of ground.”

Hickory Tree winner Local Motive; Under the Radar, third in Aug. 26 Dover; Buff Hello, Gallant Gold, Shady Munni, Coastal Mission, All for Love, Good Idea, Witty, Bet On Bitz and Free Sailin complete the field.

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Five of trainer John 'Jerry' Robb's eight career Maryland Million wins have come with 2-year-olds, and he will look to add to his record of success with Eric Rizer's homebred filly Sparkle Sprinkle in the $100,000 Lassie.

Robb has won the Lassie for 2-year-old fillies previously with Ameri Allen (1990), Carniraibow (1992) and Jonesin for Jerry (2013). He also won the Nursery for 2-year-olds with Run Alden (1993) and Glib (2011).

Sparkle Sprinkle, a bay daughter of Holy Boss, debuted with a 3 ½-length maiden claiming victory sprinting four furlongs Aug. 28 during the Maryand State Fair meet at Timonium. She went all the way on the lead for a 6 ¼-length open allowance triumph going six furlongs Sept. 18 at Laurel.

Most recently, Sparkle Sprinkle got bumped at the start and was challenged on the lead before fading to be last of six in a six-furlong optional claimer Oct. 3 at Laurel behind Click to Confirm, one of four also-eligibles in the Lassie.

“The last race she had a little bit of a problem so, hopefully, we got that fixed,” Robb said. “She was very impressive when she won that starter allowance race here. She just ran very, very fast. But, she kind of had everything her own way that day, too, and that makes a difference. The last time she got hooked and pressured and had a few problems. Hopefully we see a little better race.”

Regular rider Xavier Perez climbs back aboard Sparkle Sprinkle (6-1) from Post 3.

Clark Brewster's Waterworks, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, is the narrow 3-1 program favorite in the Lassie. The Mosler filly has raced twice, both at Monmouth Park, and exits a 9 ¼-length victory in a one-mile maiden special weight Sept. 10 that was originally carded for the turf.

Bird Mobberley's Buff My Boots (7-2) figures to be prominent early for trainer John Salzman Jr. By Buffum, she and Sparkle Sprinkle are the lone two-time winners in the Lassie. She has stakes experience, having run fifth in the Aug. 2 Keswick on the turf at Colonial Downs, and was third to Click to Confirm in the Oct. 3 race at Laurel.

Rounding out the main body of the race are Dowser, Luna Belle, My Thoughts, Sweet Gracie, Derby Julep and Moon Boss. The also-eligible list also includes Jester Calls Nojoy, exiting the Frizette (G1) for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, She's Mo Better and No More Mask.

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Epic Idea Returns For Another Shot In Maryland Million Ladies

Disqualified from a first-place finish in last year's race, Vivan Rall's homebred Epic Idea will get a second chance at becoming a Maryland Million winner in Saturday's $100,000 Ladies.

A 5-year-old Great Notion mare, Epic Idea led every step of the way in the 2020 Ladies to edge Gennie Highway by three-quarters of a length. She survived a steward's inquiry following the race but was placed second upon review of the Maryland Racing Commission in May.

Epic Idea made her 2021 debut in the $100,000 The Very One May 14 at historic Pimlico Race Course where she ran up against subsequent Grade 3 winner Caravel, finishing eighth by less than four lengths. She has run third in back-to-back turf sprints, including a half-length loss to next-out winner Polished Gal in a Laurel allowance Sept. 30.

“Epic Idea has been training great,” trainer Michael Merryman said. “Hopefully we have her ready to go two turns. The way the races set up, we sprinted the last two races and she ran well in both. It's a bit tougher field than last year, so we'll see how it plays out.”

Daniel Centeno gets the riding assignment from Post 4.

Hillwood Stable's 3-year-old homebred filly Misty's Banshee will be making just her third career start and first in a stakes in the Ladies for fall meet-leading trainer Brittany Russell. A daughter of Golden Lad out of the Malibu Moon mare Misty in Malibu, she exits a front-running triumph Sept. 23 at Laurel in a one-mile maiden claimer originally carded for the grass.

“The last time she ran great, and I think she'll love the turf. I know it's a lot to ask off a maiden win, but we've always thought highly of her ability. It's a matter of getting her brain right,” Russell said. “We've always really liked this filly, but she has been a [challenge] to get to the races. She's had a tough path, but I think we finally got her on the right track.

“Her mother was a turf horse and she trains like she would like the turf. She liked that tight, sealed track the day she broke her maiden when it came off, if that is any indication,” she added. “You hope she's better on the turf.”

Kevin Gomez, up for each of her first two starts, both also against older horses, rides from Post 7.

Bonuccelli Racing's Breviary will be racing first time off the claim for trainer Kenny Cox, who took the 4-year-old filly for $25,000 out of a one-mile event Oct. 7 at Laurel. She has three career wins but is 0-for-4 lifetime on turf including a sixth in last year's Ladies, when she was beaten 3 ¾ lengths.

“When we went back and looked at her turf races, every time she ran it seemed like she was pretty far back and the winner went wire to wire and didn't back up enough for her,” Cox said. “We're going to go ahead and take a chance. We're going to try and get her to lay a little closer. Last year she ran in it for the other connections and got beat [3 ¾] lengths to the horse that won that went wire to wire. She had to make up a lot of ground. I know we're taking a shot but I don't think it's out of the question that she can't run well in there.”

Jevian Toledo has the call in the Ladies for a second straight year, breaking from Post 2.

The 5-2 program favorite is Burke, Campbell and Picarello's I Love You, coming out of a 7 ¼-length open allowance romp going one mile Sept. 11 on the Laurel turf. She owns four wins and two seconds from eight lifetime tries on the grass and has a record of 2-2-1 in five starts since being claimed for $160,000 in February.

Holly's Lady, Maldives Model, Tipsy Chatter, Artful Splatter, Sally's Mustang, Fool Yourself, Amplio Esquema, Judi Blue Eyes, Brushing and also-eligibles Awesome Jazz and Good Life Cider complete the field.

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Maryland Million: Ain’t Da Beer Cold Looks To Give Trainer Kenny Cox Reason To Celebrate In Classic

Kenny Cox took out his trainer's license in 1987, the year after the Maryland Million was launched. Though based in the state throughout his career, which includes a pair of state meet titles and several stakes winners led by Flaming Emperor, he has yet to win a race at the event.

Cox is hoping to change that this year in the biggest race of all, Saturday's $150,000 Classic at Laurel Park, with long shot Ain't Da Beer Cold, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Matt Spencer, Cox's wife Kelly Jo, and Charlie Bonuccelli.

The 1 1/8-mile Classic for 3-year-olds and up headlines a 12-race card featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes on 'Maryland's Day at the Races,' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state. Carded as Race 11, the Classic will have a post time of 5:10 p.m. EST.

First race post time Saturday is 11:30 a.m. EST.

With 2020 victor Monday Morning Qb absent, this marks the second straight year but only the seventh time in the past 24 years and 10th in event history that the Classic will not have either the previous year's winner or a past champion in the lineup.

On paper, Ain't Da Beer Cold was well-beaten in his only two starts this year, both sprints, the most recent coming Sept. 17 at Laurel. Listed at 20-1 on the morning line, he didn't open his sophomore season until Aug. 14 at historic Pimlico Race Course in a similar conditioned allowance, contested at six furlongs.

Cox, a native of Gallupville, Md. near old Bowie Race Course, delved deeper into Ain't Da Beer Cold's form and noted his success the only two times the son of Freedom Child went a route of ground, winning an open optional claiming allowance last November and being beaten a nose in the Howard County a month later, both going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel.

“It's not out of the question this horse could run real big in the Classic, actually,” Cox said. “He's really training good. He's a route horse and last time it was a very disappointing effort the way he got eased. But, he's a horse that doesn't want dirt in his face. He kind of got some dirt and backed out. We did some bloodwork and he had some issues going on and we addressed those.

“He worked the other day and [jockey] Angel [Cruz] came and worked him. I said if this horse works decent, then we'll run him in the Classic,” he added. “He's never worked as good as he did [that day] in his entire career that I've had him, even as a baby when he was in his best form. He worked in 47 [seconds], went out with a ton of horse and he's usually not a good work horse by himself. Angel said he couldn't have asked him to do any more. He was just sitting on him, and he had a ton of horse.”

Despite breaking on the far outside in his season debut, Ain't Da Beer cold found traffic trouble and wound up seventh at Pimlico, and didn't fare any better when stretched out for his most recent race. He will be reunited in the Classic with Cruz, who was aboard for both his career wins as well as the near miss in the Howard County.

“He's a horse that, when he's in front, he's really tough to beat. He's just game and he'll give you everything he has. But he's a horse that does not want to be in tight, he does not want dirt,” Cox said. “The first race I ran him off the layoff, I knew he needed the race and I wanted to get one in him before trying to get going for the Maryland Million, because this was our goal bringing him back. I thought he would run better second start but … he's a horse that really wants to be very close with having things his way.”

Ain't Da Beer Cold, bred by Spencer and Kelly Jo Cox, stumbled at the start of last year's Maryland Million Nursery and lost all chance, finishing eighth. Cruz has been enlisted to ride in the Classic from Post 5.

“It would be big for everyone. This is what Maryland's about. It's the day. I've never really had live chances going in like I think I do this weekend so I'm pretty excited,” Cox said. “I grew up 10 minutes from Bowie. The owner [Bonuccelli], he grew up in Bowie, so it's a big deal for us to be there and to have real live chance going into it.

“I had a horse named Flaming Emperor that I bought at the sale that probably would have won the Classic more than one time. Turf and dirt, he could do everything,” he added. “He never got to run in one Million. It never opened up to Maryland-breds so he never got the opportunity. It's kind of been something that's been in the back of my mind and ate at me a little bit, but it is what it is. We're going to take our best chance. It's something you always think about. At the right time, it'll happen.”

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Non Stop Stable's Tappin Cat, exiting his eighth career victory and first in a stakes, will put his three-race win streak on the line in the Classic, where he is the 6-5 program favorite. The 5-year-old Tritap gelding has been a model of consistency, finishing third or better in 20 of 27 lifetime starts and sitting less than $800 shy of $400,000 in purse earnings.

Having sprinted last summer and into the spring, Tappin Cat has thrived since being stretched out. In five straight starts at a mile or longer, Tappin Cat ran second twice before launching his current stretch of wins in optional claiming allowances going 1 1/16 miles Aug. 13 at historic Pimlico Race Course and a mile and 70 yards 17 days later at Delaware Park.

Tappin Cat returned to Delaware Sept. 25 for the one mile, 70-yard Governor's Day Handicap. In that race, he pressed the pace for a half-mile before taking over the top spot and prevailing by a head following a prolonged duel up front. Tappin Cat did not race in last year's Classic after finishing third in 2019.

Jevian Toledo, up for that race, gets the return call from Post 8.

Non Stop stablemate Dashing Lou (30-1) is also entered. The 7-year-old gelding returns to the dirt after three unsuccessful tries on the turf, where he is 1-for-15 lifetime. The five-time winner has raced in Maryland Million before, finishing off the board in the 2019 Turf Starter Handicap.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Dream Big Dreams (4-1) will be making his stakes debut and facing elders in the Classic. Trained by Brittany Russell, the 3-year-old son of Grade 3 winner Bandbox was a rallying half-length winner last out in a 1 1/16-mile open allowance over older horses Sept. 25 at Laurel.

Two of his three career wins, including a maiden special weight triumph in his third start March 14, have come in three tries at Laurel, where he also ran second in debut last December.

“He seems to like Laurel. He's done some good running there,” Russell said. “He's 3; I know he's got a lot to prove. He's going to have to run against some experienced horses that run big races every time, but it might just be one of these things where it sets up and he gets a piece of it. It being Maryland Million day, we're going to take a swing at it.”

Dream Big Dreams has been worse than third just three times in nine lifetime races, two of those coming in his only times away from home – a maiden special weight in February at Aqueduct to launch his 2021 campaign, and a spin on the turf July 24 at Saratoga. He lost back-to-back races by a half-length at Pimlico in the spring under Russell's husband, injured jockey Sheldon Russell.

“The horse has really done nothing wrong. To be fair, the couple spots on his form where you're like, 'Oh,' those are my fault. I can take the blame for that,” Russell said. “We tried him on the turf in a race at Saratoga that didn't work out. The day we shipped him to New York, he didn't want any part of that.

“Even Sheldon has said in times he ran good races at Pimlico and got beat, he comes back and said he's still the right type of horse. He's going to win some big races,” she added. “It might not be as a 3-year-old, either. You might see the best of him in coming years, but I think he's in good form right now and he likes Laurel so we're going to go for it.”

Feargal Lynch gets the riding assignment from Post 6.

G. J. Stable's homebred 6-year-old gelding Prendimi (12-1) will be making his third straight start in the Classic, having run second in 2019 and seventh last year. He has not won in seven tries since the most recent of his three career stakes wins, the Charles Hesse III Handicap last August at Monmouth Park where Luis Carvajal Jr. – trainer of retired Grade 1-winning sprinter Imperial Hint – is based.

Bred, owned and trained by Robert Vukelic, 6-year-old Crouchelli (10-1) returns for another try at the Classic after finishing eighth in 2019 and fifth in 2018. He comes into the race off back-to-back wins in an open 1 1/8-mile allowance June 26 at Pimlico and a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Sept. 3 at Timonium. He is the most experienced of any horse in the race with 41 prior starts.

Deborah Greene and trainer Hamilton Smith's The Poser (6-1), fifth in the 2019 Maryland Million Nursery, goes after his first stakes win in the Classic. In his most recent start, the 4-year-old Bandbox gelding was beaten a head when second in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Sept. 3 at Timonium.

Torch of Truth (4-1), trained by Mike Trombetta for his wife, Marie, stretches out in his first run since determined nose triumph in a a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance sprint Aug. 27 at Timonium. Trombetta is approaching his 2,000th career victory and, like Smith, ranks among the all-time leading trainers by wins in Maryland Million history but has yet to win the Classic.

Maryland-breds on the also-eligible list, based on money won since last year's Classic, are, in order: Cordmaker, McElmore Avenue, Closer Look, Dr. Ferber and Alwaysmining.

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Hello Beautiful Chasing History In Maryland Million Distaff

Already a two-time winner in Maryland Million competition among her seven career stakes victories, 4-year-old filly Hello Beautiful can join some elite company with a third event triumph in Saturday's $100,000 Distaff at Laurel Park.

The seven-furlong Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older is among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 36th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Highlighted by the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up, first race post time is 11:30 a.m.

Since its inception in 1986, only six horses have won three Maryland Million races and not since Eighttofasttocatch captured his third Classic in four years in 2014. The others are Ben's Cat, Countus In, Docent, Mz. Zill Bear and Hall of Fame mare Safely Kept, who won the Distaff from 1989-91.

Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables' Hello Beautiful won the Lassie as a 2-year-old in 2019 before her 11 ¼-length romp in last year's Distaff.

“She's had a good year, anyway. I like to be humble about things,” trainer Brittany Russell said. “Our filly's doing good and I hope she runs her race. Just stay humble and be happy that she's healthy.”

Hello Beautiful enters the Distaff off back-to-back front-running victories in the Alma North July 31 at historic Pimlico Race Course and Weather Vane Sept. 18 at Laurel, both going six furlongs. The Alma North was jockey Sheldon Russell's 1,500th career win and the Weather Vane came by 10 ¼ lengths under Jevian Toledo after Russell – the trainer's husband – injured his foot Sept. 9 and remains sidelined.

“Since she won last time she's been great, and I'm very pleased with her,” Brittany Russell said. “Nothing in the morning or watching her come out of that last run would indicate a regression. Of course, you don't know until you run but all signs are positive with her right now.”

Hello Beautiful has won nine of 17 career starts with $524,610 in purse earnings, is 8-for-12 lifetime at Laurel and owns three wins in four tries at the distance including the Distaff and Safely Kept to cap a 2020 season interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic that altered racing and included unsuccessful road trips to Ellis Park and Saratoga for stakes.

“We tried some things last year. It was a bit of a tough year and just to get her back on track on [Maryland Million] day was huge, and to get a second Maryland million win,” Russell said. “It's fun to have a filly like this for a day like this, [one] that you hope can keep kind of making us all proud.”

Toledo gets the return call from Post 1 aboard Hello Beautiful at topweight of 122 pounds, giving four to six pounds to her rivals. Russell said her stable star continues to thrive since her most recent victory.

“Her exercise rider jumped off of her [Tuesday] morning and he was all smiles. He was like, 'Wow.' If she was good on Sunday, she was even better today. That just makes you feel good,” she said. “Hopefully we'll be lucky enough to see her next year as a 5-year-old. I don't know quite yet what the plans are, but it's exciting.”

To achieve her milestone win, Hello Beautiful will face a stiff challenge from eight-time stakes winner Street Lute, a 3-year-old daughter of Street Magician owned by Lucky 7 Stables and trained by John 'Jerry' Robb in what is expected to be an intriguing matchup of speedy fillies.

“It's definitely going to be one of her tougher spots. She's got to run against older horses [and] Hello Beautiful is a very tough older horse,” Robb said. “There's one day when they ran the same day, back-to-back races. Street Lute's race went faster than hers did, but then like a week later they adjusted the time. But, we've known all along we were going to have to hook up sooner or later.”

Street Lute was favored to win last year's Lassie but was caught at the wire by Miss Nondescript and came up a neck short. She then proceeded to reel off five consecutive wins, all in Laurel stakes, improving her record to 5-for-7 over her home track, where she has yet to lose going seven furlongs in three tries.

Sixth by 2 ½ lengths in the M. Tyson Gilpin on the grass July 19 at Colonial Downs, Street Lute ran seventh in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 27 but came back with a three-quarter-length triumph over her elders including fellow Distaff entrant Malibu Beauty in the six-furlong Tax Free Distaff Sept. 25 at Delaware Park.

“She's always been doing great. She didn't like the grass and she bled at Charles Town in the graded race,” Robb said. “She's good. Just draw a line through those two races and there are no bad ones.”

Street Lute, whose most recent victories have come from off the pace, doesn't figure to let Hello Beautiful out of sight under regular rider Xavier Perez from their rail post. She will carry 118 pounds.

“Hello Beautiful has been getting away with real easy leads and breathers, and I don't see that happening,” Robb said. “She's doing good.”

Robb also entered CJI Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm's Fille d'Esprit, whose name means 'spirit girl' in French. The 5-year-old Great Notion mare, claimed for $10,000 last August, won four straight races to end 2020 but has yet to race this year after overcoming an injury.

“She got hurt, and she's back and been working lights out. She worked three-quarters the other morning here in 11 flat,” Robb said. “She's just coming back really good, knock on wood. She had won four in a row and she beat some of the horses that are in the Maryland Million when she was winning those races, horses that went on to win stakes. She's a nice filly. I hate to run her seven-eighths first time back, hate to run her against Hello Beautiful first time back, but maybe she's the one that'll pick up the pieces from the speed duel.”

ZWP Stable, Inc. and Non Stop Stable's Malibu Beauty was a front-running winner of the six-furlong Miss Disco against fellow Maryland-bred/sired horses Aug. 21 at Pimlico prior to her loss in the Tax Free District. The 3-year-old Buffum filly has been first or second in seven consecutive starts, four of them wins.

NRS Stable, James Chambers and Avalon Farm's Coconut Cake was riding a three-race win streak heading into last year's Distaff, but was forced to scratch after developing a quarter crack days before the race. She has a win, two seconds and a third in six starts since coming back, most recently running second to Hello Beautiful in the Weather Vane.

Also entered are Maryland-breds Whispering Pines, third by a length in the seven-furlong Conniver March 13 at Laurel and fourth in the Shine Again Aug. 4 at Saratoga, and Factorintheheat.

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