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Five Title Defenders Lead 249 Pre-Entries For Jim McKay Maryland Million Day

Five defending champions led by multiple stakes-winning filly Hello Beautiful, and graded-stakes placed horses Cordmaker, Galerio, Double Crown and No Mo Lady are among 249 pre-entries in 12 stakes on the 36th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program Saturday, Oct. 23 at Laurel Park.

Five of the races on the groundbreaking Maryland Million program are scheduled to be contested over Laurel's world-class turf course. Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Wednesday, Oct. 20.

First race post time on Maryland Million Day is 11:30 a.m.

Cordmaker and Galerio are each among 23 horses nominated to the $150,000 Classic, the richest race on the Maryland Million program, for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. Hillwood Stables' Cordmaker, a 6-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin, owns six career stakes wins, four of them coming at Laurel, and was third in the historic Pimlico Special (G3) in both 2019 and 2020.

Galerio is owned and trained by Jamie Ness, who claimed the 5-year-old Jump Start gelding out of a runner-up finish Aug. 16 at Colonial Downs. Overall, the Maryland-bred has been first or second in 22 of 28 lifetime starts, nine of them wins, and has placed in five stakes including a second to Cordmaker in the March 13 Harrison Johnson Memorial at Laurel and third in the June 12 Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park.

Also pre-entered in the Classic are multiple stakes winners Alwaysmining, who ran in the 2019 Preakness (G1); 5-year-old mare Artful Splatter, beaten a head when second in the Sept. 18 Twixt at Laurel; and 2019 Classic runner-up Prendimi, as well as Non Stop Stable's Tappin Cat, third in the 2019 Classic and currently riding a three-race win streak for Laurel trainer Gary Capuano.

Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables' Hello Beautiful is pre-entered to defend her title in the $100,000 Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting seven furlongs. The 4-year-old daughter of Golden Lad, winner of the 2019 Maryland Million Lassie, is 9-for-17 overall and 3-for-5 this year, each win coming in stakes, including the Alma North and Weathervane in back-to-back starts, the latter her most recent Sept. 18 at Laurel.

Lucky 7 Stables' 3-year-old Street Lute is an eight-time stakes winner who has faced her elders twice before, including a victory over stakes winner and fellow Distaff pre-entrant Malibu Beauty in the Sept. 25 Tax Free District at Delaware Park. Also pre-entered are Coconut Cake and multiple-stakes winner Never Enough Time, respectively second and third in the Weathervane; Kiss the Girl, winner of the Aug. 21 All Brandy at historic Pimlico Race Course; and 3-year-old Moquist, undefeated in her only two starts, both this year.

Another defending champion pre-entered in 2021 is Nancy Heil-bred, owned and trained Karan's Notion in the $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-old and up at six furlongs. Karan's Notion was a front-running winner of last year's Sprint by a length at odds of 16-1 and was third in the six-furlong Not For Love March 13 at Laurel in his most recent stakes attempt.

Also prominent among 22 Sprint pre-entries are Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Double Crown, a two-time stakes winner that in 2020 ran second in the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico and third in the Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream Park; multiple stakes winners Jaxon Traveler, Kenny Had a Notion, Street Lute and Whereshetoldmetogo; and stakes winner Exculpatory.

The $100,000 Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs returned to the Maryland Million in 2020 after an eight-year absence and was won by the talented Fiya. The second through sixth-place finishers from that race – respectively So Street, Godlovesasinner, Grateful Bred, Love You Much and Joseph – are among 24 pre-entries in 2021 along with stakes winners Can the Queen, Introduced and Kenny Had a Notion.

Lead Off Stable's Pretty Good Year pulled off a 15-1 upset of last year's $100,000 Turf for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, but has gone winless in six subsequent starts, including two at Saratoga this summer. Among the 23 pre-entrants this year are stakes winners Trifor Gold and Somekindofmagician as well as 2020 Turf runner-up Cannon's Roar. Taking Risks Stable's Cannon's Roar has run in the past three Maryland Millions, finishing seventh in the 2019 Turf and fourth in the 2018 Turf Starter Handicap. His trainer, Dale Capuano, owns the most wins in Maryland Million history with 14.

The Turf's companion race, the $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies going 1 1/8 miles on grass for fillies and mares 3 and older, attracted 23 pre-entrants led by Vivian Rall's homebred Epic Idea who finished first by three-quarters of a length in 2020 but in May was disqualified to second following a Maryland Racing Commission ruling on the appeal of Dale Capuano, trainer of runner-up Gennie Highway, who was subsequently placed first. Kiss the Girl, a stakes winner on both turf and dirt, and Mike Trombetta-trained stablemate No Mo Lady, third in the 2020 Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico, are also among the 23 pre-entries.

Most popular among horsemen was the $100,000 Nursery for 2-year-olds, which drew 28 pre-entries led by Bonuccelli Racing's Cynergy's Star, winner of the Aug. 29 Timonium Juvenile in his most recent start, and Bird Mobberley's Local Motive, winner of the Hickory Tree on the Colonial Downs turf Aug. 2. The $100,000 Lassie saw 21 2-year-old fillies pre-entered including Waterworks, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and exiting a 9 ¼-length maiden special weight triumph Sept. 10 at Monmouth; stakes-placed Mama G's Wish; and Jester Calls Nojoy, sixth last out in the Frizette (G1) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Back for the fifth straight year are the $50,000 Turf Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and older, where defending champion Jumpstartmyheart is among the pre-entries, and $50,000 Turf Starter Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, both at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

Rounding out the stakes action are the $40,000 Starter Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, whose pre-entries include defending champion Glengar, and $40,000 Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and older, with 2019 winner Yesterdaysplan and 2020 runner-up Calypso Ghost among the pre-entries. Both are contested at seven furlongs.

Edgar Prado leads all Maryland Million jockeys with 18 wins, one more than fellow Hall of Famer Ramon Dominguez. Sheldon Russell, currently sidelined with a right foot injury, rode four winners in 2020 including Monday Morning Qb in the Classic.

Dale Capuano and Hall of Famer King Leatherbury, who together have combined for more than 10,000 career victories, rank 1-2 among Maryland Million trainers with 14 and 10 wins, respectively, while Trombetta moved into third last year with his ninth win.

Named for the late Hall of Fame and 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster who helped launch the groundbreaking concept in 1986, the Jim McKay Maryland Million has evolved into the second-biggest day on the state's racing calendar behind only the Preakness Stakes (G1). 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrates the stallions who stand in the state as well as a rich and diverse racing history that dates back to the founding of the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743.

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Five Competitive Races Comprise Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager

Five competitive and interesting races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park will comprise Friday's Stronach 5.

The coast-to-coast action begins at approximately 4:27 ET and features a low 12-percent takeout.

The Stronach 5 begins in Maryland with Laurel's eighth race, an allowance event on the turf for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 mile. Follow the Flag, a 3-year-old filly by Tapit out of the Grade 1 winning mare, Mushka, returns after a six-month layoff for trainer Michael Matz. Runaway Monet, who broke her maiden by 9 ¾ last time out for trainer Rodney Jenkins, hopes to try the turf for the first time after having three previous starts on the grass moved to the main track.

Next up is Gulfstream's eighth race, an allowance optional claimer at six furlongs for state breds with a dozen entered including Vinnie Van Go, who has been claimed in seven of his last eight starts. The gelding will be saddled Friday by Saffie Joseph Jr. Vinnie Van Go is one of six horses in the race claimed from its previous start. Katie's Cowboy goes out first time for Kent Sweezey, Frenchmen Street for Elizabeth Dobles and Gangly for Jose D'Angelo.

The third leg of the sequence returns to Laurel and its ninth race, a maiden claiming events at six furlongs for 2-year-olds. Bust'em Kurt is the 7-5 favorite for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez after a pair of seconds against maiden special weight company. Divining Stone, a son of Divining Rod, makes his debut for Arnaud Delacour as does Off Course, a son of Speightster, for Jeremiah O'Dwyer.

The Stronach 5 heads west for the final two legs of the sequence. Santa Anita's third race, a claiming event for fillies and mares at six furlongs on the turf, has a field of nine including Mind Meld, making his third start off the layoff for trainer Mike Puype and dropping from $50,000 claiming company. Sweet Devil gets blinkers for trainer Michael McCarthy. Miss Tokyo makes her first start since June of 2020 for Leonard Powell. Acai has placed in two of three starts across the dirt for Doug O'Neill, and New Drama has done the same for Tim Yakteen.

Santa Anita's fourth race concludes the Stronach 5 with maidens 3-years-old and up going six furlongs on the main track. Sir Flatter draws the rail after closing strongly for second money last time out at Los Alamitos. The full field may have to catch Try to Capture, who runs on or close to the pace in his first two starts for trainer Peter Miller. Fenestra returns to the races off a 16-month layoff for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Fenestra, a son of Street Sense, is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Curlina.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 1 1/8-mile furlongs turf) 4 :27 ET, 1:27 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (12 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:38 ET, 1:38 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: (10 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:59 ET, 1:59 PT
Leg Four –Santa Anita Race 3: (9 entries, 6 furlongs turf) 5:05 ET, 2:05 PT
Leg Five –Santa Anita Race 4: (13 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:35 ET, 5:35 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Laurel Park: 16-Year-Old Apprentice Bryson Butterfly Celebrates First Career Victory Friday

In his only mount of the day and 11th since bringing his tack to Maryland at the start the month, 16-year-old apprentice Bryson Butterfly picked up his first winner at Laurel Park when Alpha Queue cruised to a front-running 7 ¼-length triumph in Friday's opener.

It was the 18th career win from 179 mounts for Butterfly, who launched his career in May at Grants Pass in Oregon and currently rides with a seven-pound weight allowance. Alpha Queue ($6), owned and trained by Lacey Gaudet, ran six furlongs in 1:10.84 over a fast main track.

In the claiming event for 3-year-olds and up, Alpha Queue was pressed through an opening quarter-mile in 23.19 seconds by Pet's Night before gaining separation after going a half in 46.59. Butterfly and Alpha Queue straightened for home with a five-length lead and rolled through the stretch to earn his second lifetime win from 10 starts.

“It's insane to just even win a race here. The course is beautiful,” Butterfly said. “The horse felt really good. I knew coming to the quarter pole when I smooched at him I had so much horse left. He finished really nicely. It was a great win. It felt awesome.”

Butterfly is a Native American originally from Washington State with family in the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana. Established by treaty in 1855 and located on 1.5 million acres along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in the northwestern part of the state, Blackfeet Nation is one of the 10 largest tribes in the United States with 17,321 members.

“My brother has won a few championships in roping, and my other brother was riding Indian relay, so we're all kind of a big part of horses,” Butterfly said. “My mom is a horse trainer. I was galloping horses when I was 8. I rode my first gate race when I was 12. I owe it all to my mom. She was the one that helped me get here.”

Butterfly's mother, Amy Nelson, is an ex-jockey who rode briefly in Canada and now has a stable based in Arizona. Her most recent starter was April 22 at Turfway Park. She has 21 career wins as a trainer since 2004.

“When I was little, we used to break horses for people and we used to go up in the mountains and ride them. She was the one that got me into a gallop saddle,” Butterfly said. “She used to ride before I was born. I always just wanted to try it. I galloped my first horse, which was my barrel horse at the time, and just fell in love with it from there. She's just helped me through so much. She's gotten me to where I am now.”

Butterfly picked up his first winner June 1 at Grants Pass aboard Hey Wilmaaa. He split time between there and Emerald Downs in Washington with stops at Oregon Livestock and Crooked River in Oregon and Arizona Downs before landing in the Midwest.

He rode at Ellis Park and Indiana Downs from July 30 to Sept. 23 before coming to Maryland, where his first race came Oct. 1 on You Can Never Tell. He is represented by agent Marty Leonard, who also has the book for Jevian Toledo and the injured Sheldon Russell.

“Jimmy McNerney is from Indiana. He's the announcer at Ellis Park. He's an agent and he was asking if I'd like to go back and forth and ride Kentucky and Indiana,” Butterfly said. “It's always been a dream of mine to ride in Kentucky, so I went over there and did that for a while. It was fun, a great experience. I loved it.

“He and I split ways and then Ron Anderson was talking to a friend of mine and asking about me and asking how I was and if I had an agent, so I gave him a call,” he added. “He referred me to Marty and Marty asked if I'd like to come over to Maryland.”

Before Friday, Butterfly's best finish was a third with Little Man Farm's Double Fireball, trained by Anthony Aguirre, Oct. 3. Butterfly, who stands 5-foot-7 and doesn't turn 17 until April 6, 2022, is staying with fellow jockey Richard Monterrey.

“The transition has been great. Everyone has been so nice. It was great for Richard to give me a spot to stay. It's been my dream since I was 11 years old,” Butterfly said. “It was a big adjustment at first, but it's getting easier. A lot more people around and a lot of help.”

Butterfly noted the influence of late jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa on his career. Gutierrez-Sosa, 29, was killed in a fall during a quarter horse race July 14 at Crooked River when his mount, Godfather Advice, struck the inside rail. Butterfly also rode in the race, finishing second.

“He was the one jockey in the room where you'd go in there and he was always smiling and always taking care of everyone before himself,” Butterfly said. “He's just been a big inspiration for me. I talk to him before every race and I pray. He was always there and always helped me out. He helped everybody.”

Butterfly is the second teenager riding regularly in Maryland. Charlie Marquez, 18, leads all jockeys with 84 wins in Maryland this year and was the state's top apprentice with 58 victories in 2020. He won his first meet title at the Preakness Meet at Pimlico stand that ended Aug. 22.

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Trio Of Turf Races Highlight Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager

Friday's Stronach 5 will feature three turf races, two races from both Santa Anita Park and Laurel Park, and a low 12-percent takeout.

The popular wager continues to offer a strong return on investment. Despite not having a winner paying more than $9.60 last week, there were 40 winning tickets each worth $1,525.70.

Laurel's eighth race, an allowance optional claimer at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares, is a wide-open event with a tepid choice in Roselba, who ships in from Monmouth Park after winning the restricted Pinot Grigio Handicap last out. Flyingontheground finished sixth last time out over a 'good' turf course at Delaware but was second July 4 at Pimlico over firm turf in the Sensible Lady Turf Dash for trainer Elizabeth Merryman. Trainer Michael Trombetta sends out Ellanation, winner over the summer of the Jameela at Pimlico.

Gulfstream's eighth race, the second leg of the sequence, is $25,000 allowance optional claimer at 6 ½ furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. The 5-2 favorite is Reservenotattained, claimed last time out by trainer Juan Avila in the geldings first start since March. The son of Shanghai Bobby finished second against similar competition off the layoff. Front Loaded leaves from the rail with jockey Chantal Sutherland after finishing by a neck last out for $35,000. Mister Luigi looks for his second consecutive victory for trainer Antonio Sano after shipping back from Saratoga.

It's back to Laurel for the third leg, a maiden special weight event at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for 2-year-olds. The Man to See stretches out and gets blinkers for Lacey Gaudet after finishing second over the turf in his debut at five furlongs, while Consultant goes out second time for Trombetta after a second-place finish on the turf at a mile. Trainer Shug McGaughey ships in Candy Cool, a son of Candy Ride after two unspectacular races on the dirt. Shake Em Loose, a son of Shakin It Up, makes his turf debut after a third-place finish last out at a mile.

The Stronach 5 heads to Santa Anita for the final two legs of the Stronach 5. First, it's Santa Anita's third race, a mile turf event for 3-year-olds and up. Liar Liar takes a drop in company and draws the rail for trainer Peter Miller and jockey Flavien Prat. The 4-year-old has finished first, second or third in nine of 14 turf trips. Best Chance goes out second time off a layoff for John Sadler and jockey Joe Bravo. Bee Catcher makes his Santa Anita debut after being claimed last out by Dan Blacker from a Gulfstream Park claiming event. Trainer Carlos David claimed the son of English Channel from his previous start from Graham Motion. Active Account also goes out for a new barn after a $16,000 claim by trainer Doug O'Neill.

Santa Anita's fourth race, a mile claiming event on the main track for fillies and mares, concludes the Stronach 5. The 10-horse field has a tepid 7-2 choice Chollima, who has finished first or second in nine of her 12 career starts. Bold Article takes a dip in claiming price while Lady O'Prado goes for her second consecutive win after a 9 ¾ length victory at Del Mar Sept. 2. They all may well be chasing Destiny's Journey, who has shown a fondness to be on or close to the pace in many of her recent starts.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs turf) 4 :18 ET, 1:18 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (7 entries, 6 ½ furlongs) 4:40 ET, 1:40 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: (14 entries,1 1/16-mile turf) 4:53 ET, 1:53PT
Leg Four –Santa Anita Race 3: (9 entries, 1 mile turf) 5:05 ET, 2:05 PT
Leg Five –Santa Anita Race 4: (10 entries, 1 mile) 5:35 ET, 5:35 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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