Tag: Maryland Million Classic

Homecoming Victory In Maryland Million Classic

A decade ago, trainer Jamie Ness claimed a filly named Parade of Colors for $5,000 at Laurel Park. She only ended up winning three lower-level races lifetime and only one for Ness, and when she retired at the end of 2012, Ness simply gave her away to breeder John Williamson III.

But something about that filly resonated positively with Ness, and as he watched her offspring eventually reach the races as Maryland-breds, one in particular caught his eye: Ournationonparade, a son of Cal Nation, who won the 2019 Maryland Million Nursery as the favorite despite being a second-time-starter maiden.

Ness continued to follow Ournationonparade as he matured from ages two to five and changed barns several times via the claim box while competing on other major circuits.

So just four weeks ago, when the 7-for-24 gelding was on the cusp of a three-race winning streak, Ness, acting on behalf of owner Happy Got Lucky Stable, dropped a slip for $50,000 prior to a winning effort at Churchill Downs. Four other outfits had also put in claims for the Maryland-bred, but Ness and his client managed to win the five-way shake.

On Saturday, making his first start for the trainer who had been keeping tabs on his family for 10 years, Ournationonparade blasted past two previous $150,000 Classic S. winners to capture his fourth straight start, this one in the featured race on the 37th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million program.

The 5 3/4-length victory was the second stakes win of the afternoon for Ness and the second stakes score for jockey Jaime Rodriguez on the eight-stakes card for the offspring of in-state stallions.

“I've always been watching this horse,” Ness said in the Laurel winner's circle. “I've always had a little bit of a connection to the horse. And it kind of comes full circle [because we] finally got a chance to bring him back home to Maryland. He's a Maryland-

bred. He needs to be here. And hopefully, he'll be here for good from now on.”

Backed to 2-1 favoritism, Ournationonparade had a stutter-step start but quickly righted himself and took up the chase by assertively snagging a three-wide stalking spot through the opening turn.

Fourth for most of the trip down the backstretch, Rodriguez patiently rated with a handful of horse behind the speed-centric Prendimi (Dance With Ravens) and Monday Morning Qb (Imagining), the respective 2021 and 2020 winners of this same stakes.

But by the far turn, Rodriguez's calm body language atop Ournationonparade stood out in confident contrast to the desperate urging of the top two. The gelding cracked Prendimi first and then blitzed “Qb” at the head of the lane.

Ournationonparade began pouring it on in upper stretch, racing for a few strides with his head cocked out toward the grandstand before finishing with authority while kept to task by Rodriguez. The final time was 1:51.78 for nine furlongs over the “fast” dirt.

Other Oct. 22 highlights from Laurel included Great Notion, the state's leading stallion by progeny earnings since 2018, siring yet another Maryland Million winner, giving his offspring at least one Maryland Million Day stakes victory for 13 consecutive years.

And the second-crop stallion Blofeld swept the two Maryland Million races for juveniles, siring his first two stakes winners. It's the second year in a row one stallion has swept the card's baby races: Progeny of Buffum, who died in 2019, won both of those 2-year-old stakes in 2021.

Johnyz From Albany racked up the first stakes win for Blofeld by wiring the $100,000 Nursery. Off at 4-1, he turned for home with the three favorites bearing down menacingly, but he capably swatted them away to cruise home by five lengths in 1:11.35 for six furlongs under Jorge Ruiz for trainer Dale Capuano.

Owner Charles “Chip” Reed said that the win was special on several levels. First, he had named his homebred in honor of a recently departed Saratoga-area racetrack friend, John Zanella from Albany, New York. And second, Reed had also campaigned the colt's dam, Monster Sleeping, whom he had claimed for $30,000 in 2013.

“The mom won two [Maryland Million] races here, so we were hoping that the son took after the mom, and today he did,” Reed said.

In the counterpart $100,000 Lassie S. for 2-year-old-filles, the Blofeld-sired Chickieness was a 1 1/2-length victress at 9-10 odds while mowing down the center of the main track in 1:12.58 for six furlongs. Ness and Rodriguez again partnered here, this time for owner/breeder Jagger, Inc. and part-owner Morris Kernan, Jr.

In the $125,000 Turf Classic, 9-2 shot Wicked Prankster (Mosler) cleared the field from an outer post going nine furlongs over “firm” grass, but looked certain to be swallowed up late in the lane after leading the entire trip.

Yet the 4-year-old from owner/trainer Samuel Davis's barn fought back when headed, resurging to win by three-quarters of a length under Richard Monterrey in 1:49.44. Country Life Farm & Broken Trust Fund, LLC, bred Wicked Prankster.

Coconut Cake (Bandbox) delivered a score by a head at 6-5 odds in the $125,000 Ladies S. at nine furlongs on the turf, having gone winless since 2020.

Jockey Sheldon Russell stalked the speed, uncoiling the 5-year-old gray for a long stretch drive against a very stubborn 16-1 pacemaker, prevailing in the final few jumps for a 1:50.22 clocking. Tim Keefe trains and is part-owner along with N R S Stable and James Chambers. The breeders were Mr. & Mrs. Charles McGinnes.

The $100,000 Sprint S. yielded the heaviest-favored winner among the Maryland Million stakes, with the 1-2 chalk Fortheluvofbourbon (Bourbon Courage) getting a bit more late-stretch resistance than might have been expected from 15-1 runner-up Karan's Notion (Great Notion), the 2020 upsetter of this same stakes.

The winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.96 for six furlongs for connections Paco Lopez (jockey), Michael Pino (trainer), Smart Angle LLP (owner) and Hidden Acres 4-D Farm (breeder). The victory was Fortheluvofbourbon's sixth straight trip to the winner's circle and victory number 12 from just 23 lifetime starts.

Fille d'Esprit (Great Notion), the 1 1/4-length winner of the $100,000 Distaff S. over seven furlongs, is only one win away from matching Fortheluvofbourbon's impressive record. She's now 11-for-22 lifetime after stalking a legit pace with a rail run, then edging away powerfully in deep stretch to finish in 1:25.05.

The 6-year-old mare is making the most of regional incentives on the mid-Atlantic circuit. She also won her division of the MATCH stakes series this summer for jockey Xavier Perez, trainer John Robb, the ownership partners C J I Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm, and breeder Sweet Spirits Stables.

In the $100,000 Turf Sprint S., Sky's Not Falling (Seville {Ger}), forced the issue with an inside bid, split horses on the far bend, then repulsed late challenges to win by half a length at 7-2 odds under Lopez (two stakes-winning rides) in 1:02.75 for 5 1/2 furlongs. The Michael Trombetta trainee was bred by R. Larry Johnson, who partners in ownership with R. D. M. Racing Stable.

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Prendimi Gets Well-Earned Break After Maryland Million Classic Win

G. J. Stable's Prendimi emerged from his upset victory in the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., in good order and will be headed south next month to begin his annual winter vacation.

Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said the New Jersey-bred 6-year-old Dance With Ravens gelding returned to their base at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., following the Classic and was bright and energetic Sunday morning.

“He's good. I do play around with Twitter a little bit and I did tweet a picture of him this morning. He was very awake and I like the way he came out of the race,” Carvajal said. “First of all, he ate everything, of course. When they put him on the scale yesterday, he weighed like 1240 pounds. He's a good eater. He got here late last night and then we waited a couple hours and we fed him and he cleaned the feed tub after that, so that's a good sign.”

The 1 1/8-mile Classic was the richest of four career stakes wins for Prendimi and first away from Monmouth Park. He led from start to finish under jockey Mychel Sanchez and was tested every step of the way, including a protracted stretch duel with favored Tappin Cat, prevailing by a neck.

“You can see that when he wants to run, he's a fighter. Sometimes he has his lazy days and if he doesn't want to try, he just doesn't try,” Carvajal said. “On the morning of the race, I thought about the horse and I thought he had a good chance. Once they open the gate, plans go out the window but he did everything right and the jockey did a great job. Mychel rode him so good and he looked so energetic down the lane. It's good to see.”

It was the third straight trip to the Classic for Prendimi, who ran second in 2019 and seventh in 2020. He got the rest of the year off each time before returning the following season, and Carvajal said he will continue that blueprint this year.

“That's the plan. As long as the horse is happy and healthy, there's always the next time,” he said. “Home for me is Florida. That's where I have my wife and kids and home. Plans are already made to go back to Florida. He'll get a little bit of rest and probably run a few times there. Tampa Bay Downs is good and usually horses do good when they come back here.”

Carvajal, who galloped Prendimi's dam, Cigno d'Oro, won his first career graded stake at Laurel with Imperial Hint in the 2017 Grade 3 General George off a victory in Laurel's Fire Plug the month prior. Imperial Hint would go on to four Grade 1 victories and earn more than $2.2 million in purses.

“If I had a few more horses, I probably would have left something up. I have such good luck over there at Laurel,” he said. “Laurel has been good to me. It's probably just a matter of time [until] I keep some horses there, too.”

The post Prendimi Gets Well-Earned Break After Maryland Million Classic Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prendimi Outlasts Tappin Cat to Take Maryland Million Classic

Prendimi held the lead from gate to wire, but his win in his third try at Maryland Million Classic was not an easy one. The 6-year-old gelding outlasted the stretch-long challenge from a persistent Tappin Cat to take the Classic by a head at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Prendimi took the top spot right out of the gate, with Ain't Da Beer Cold and Tappin Cat in second and third a half-length back. Thorough early factions of :23.61 and :46.84, Prendimi ran comfortably on the lead under jockey Mychel Sanchez. Ain't Da Beer Cold pulled even with Prendimi as they approached the far turn, with Tappin Cat going to the outside to find racing room

Around the turn, Ain't Da Beer Cold faded as Tappin Cat made his bid for the lead as they straightened out into the Laurel stretch. Prendimi had a half-length on Tappin Cat, but the challenger would not quit, forcing Prendimi to dig in late stretch to hold off Tappin Cat and win by a head. The Poser was third. Torch of Truth, Dream Big Dreams, Crouchelli, Dashing Lou, and Ain't Da Beer Cold rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.46. Find this race's chart here.

Prendimi paid $26.20, $7.80, and $4.60. Tappin Cat paid $2.40 and $2.10. The Poser paid $3.60.

Bred in New Jersey by owner GJ Stables, Prendimi is by Dance With Ravens out of the Tour d'Or mare Cigno d'Oro. He is trained by Luis Carvajal, Jr. The Maryland Million Classic is Prendimi's first win in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 30 starts and $472,005 in career earnings.

The post Prendimi Outlasts Tappin Cat to Take Maryland Million Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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