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Maryland Million: Streaking Fiya Claims Turf Sprint; Epic Idea Stretch Out In Ladies

Robert Masiello's Fiya continued his hot streak this year, stepping up to stakes company for the first time and extending his win streak to four races with a popular 2 1/4-length triumph in Saturday's $75,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 5 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles, both contested over Laurel's world-class grass course, were among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 35th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Fiya ($2.20), bred in Maryland by Ann Merryman, completed the distance in 1:03.56 over a Bowl Game turf course layout rated good to give jockey Trevor McCarthy his third stakes win of the day following the $100,000 Ladies with Epic Idea and $100,000 Lassie with Miss Nondescript.

This year marked the return of the Turf Sprint to the Maryland Million program following a seven-year absence, won in each of its final three years by late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben's Cat (2010-12).

Sent off as the 1-9 favorite in a field of eight, Fiya settled behind intent pacesetter Grateful Bred through splits of 21.95 and 45.03 seconds, swept to the lead rounding the far turn, took command once straightened for home and steadily edged away to remain undefeated in four starts this year.

“It looked like he got over the track well. I saw the first fraction was pretty quick and then they didn't go super quick the second quarter,” winning trainer Tom Albertrani said from his base at Belmont Park. “I thought he ran like we were hoping to see. He was able to sit off the pace and he stalked well and had something left for the end.”

Fiya made his first four starts in Maryland, two of them on dirt last fall, before being gelding and switched to the turf this year. The Friesan Fire gelding sold at auction for $400,000 following an allowance triumph July 17, and debuted for his new connections with a 3 1/4-length score Sept. 20 at Belmont – registering the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (100) for a 3-year-old on turf this year.

“Actually, it worked out perfect just like I thought it would. If he broke in front I would have gone to the lead, but when the other horse went I could just stalk,” McCarthy said. “We had a great position. He had a nice break and really settled off the pace nice, and when I asked him to accelerate he surely did.”

McCarthy was aboard for Fiya's race debut last November for previous trainer Michael Merryman, the breeder's son, and was impressed by the horse's development over the past 11 months.

“Big time. Definitely today I was like, 'Wow.' He's so much stronger and so much bigger,” McCarthy said. “Ann and Tom have done a great job with him; I was just lucky to be aboard him today. He just outclassed these horses. He just showed his true talent and made us all look good.”

So Street came on late for second, a length ahead of 45-1 long shot Godlovesasinner. It was another half-length back to Grateful Bred in fourth.

Albertrani said the $835,000 Claiming Crown Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park is the next likely landing spot for Fiya, who ran for a $25,000 tag in his debut.

“Right now, short-term we have two options. Our first option is to get him to Florida and run him in the Claiming Crown,” Albertrani said. “We may decide to stay in New York and run him in the Turf Sprint at the end of November at Aqueduct. I think we're more in favor of getting him down to Florida, but that's something we'll talk with Rob about.”

Epic Idea Stretches Out to Win $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies
Vivian E. Rall's homebred Epic Idea, a two-time winner sprinting on the turf but who had never beyond one mile, successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to earn her first career stakes win in the $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies.

The first of back-to-back wins for jockey Trevor McCarthy, who followed up in the $100,000 Lassie with Miss Nondescript, Epic Idea ($13.60) gave her sire, Great Notion, a Maryland Million winner for the 11th consecutive year. She is trained by Ann Merryman and assisted by her son, Michael.

“That's pretty cool. That is amazing,” McCarthy said. “Big credit to these guys, Ann and Michael. I always thought she was a great sprinter. Going into it I said, 'I guess we'll try and nurse her for as long as we can,' and when I slowed it up the second quarter, she turned off so nice. Even though she had a little bit of company next to her, she was going really smooth and she gave me a nice kick turning for home.”

The winning time was 1:55.06 over an Exceller turf course rated good.

Epic Idea settled through fractions of 24.85 and 51.73 seconds under McCarthy pressed by 2-1 favorite Something Magical, fourth in last year's Ladies after setting the pace. Gennie Highway was in the clear three wide to join the chase and launched her bid approaching the stretch, but after giving his filly a breather, McCarthy set down for the wire. Epic Idea held off Gennie Highway through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length despite drifting out, and survived a claim of foul from Gennie Highway's rider Jorge Ruiz.

Epic Idea winning the Maryland Million Ladies

“Every time I would lean on her she kind of kept drifting. I kept trying to straighten her up a little bit but she just wasn't getting the best hold of the ground. I think she was kind of spinning her wheels a little bit,” McCarthy said. “Luckily she didn't make any contact, so that was nice.”

Gennie Highway stayed up for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Mosalah.

Epic Idea now owns three wins from 10 starts, her others coming at 5 ½ furlongs in a maiden special weight last August, also under McCarthy, and an open allowance July 10, both at Laurel.

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Unbeaten In Three Starts This Year, Fiya Steps Up For Saturday’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint

Robert Masiello's Fiya, unbeaten in three starts this year, will put his speed and streak to the test when he steps up to stakes company for the first time in Saturday's $75,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park.

The 5 ½-furlong Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles, each scheduled for Laurel's world-class grass course, are among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 35th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

First race post time is 11:25 a.m. The headliner comes in Race 11, the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up featuring historic Pimlico Special (G3) winner Harpers First Ride and fellow stakes winners Cordmaker, Monday Morning Qb and Top Line Growth.

This year marks the return of the Turf Sprint to the Maryland Million program following a seven-year absence. Won in each of its final three years by late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben's Cat, the Turf Sprint was last run in 2012.

Bred in Maryland by Ann Merryman and trained through his first four starts by her son, Michael, Fiya made an auspicious debut last November at Laurel, getting loose before the race then tiring to third behind next-out winners Pitching Ari and Tastes Like Plaid after setting the pace.

Second in his juvenile finale last December, Fiya was then gelded and moved to the turf and hasn't lost since. He graduated by five lengths in a six-furlong maiden claimer June 26 and followed up with a front-running three-length allowance triumph going 5 ½ furlongs July 17 in 1:00.99, just .25 off the Exceller turf course record. Two weeks later, Masiello purchased him at auction for $400,000.

“It looked like he was breezing, just the way [jockey] Feargal [Lynch] was sitting on him on the turn. He was absolutely just cruising around there, but he was going in 43 and change against a pretty good field,” Masiello said. “We spent a decent amount of money on him. The question is going to be, 'Can he take that to the next level?' We'll find out at some point, but when they do that they're giving you an indication that they might be pretty special.”

Moved to the New York barn of trainer Tom Albertrani, Fiya was considered for such races as the Aug. 26 Mahony at Saratoga, Sept. 7 Laurel Dash and Sept. 16 Franklin-Simpson (G3) at Kentucky Downs. Ultimately, he remained at Belmont Park where he debuted for his new connections Sept. 20, leading all the way in a 3 ¼-length victory in 1:06.70 that earned him a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, tied for the fastest by a 3-year-old on the grass this year.

“I felt very confident going into the race. If you would have told me he was going to go down there and just be a tick off the track record, I wouldn't have believed that. But he certainly did it very impressively,” Albertrani said. “Since I've gotten the horse he really is impressive, both physically and the way he trains.

“I got him at Saratoga over the summer and he was very impressive. I felt pretty confident going into that last race,” he added. “We just felt we'd keep him at home and kind of run him in our own backyard without shipping in a different direction when we first got him, and he certainly delivered that day.”

Maryland's four-time overall riding champion Trevor McCarthy, aboard for his debut last fall, gets a return call on Fiya from outside Post 9. They are favored at 6-5 on the morning line.

“He's got a lot of natural speed. The last race it just looked like he was coasting along and doing it very easy, so going back to 5 ½ [furlongs] I don't think is going to make any difference at all,” Albertrani said. “He's run well at Laurel. We know the history that he's got there so we feel very optimistic going into the race. If he runs back to his last three races he could be very tough in there.”

R. Larry Johnson's homebred A Great Time takes his own two-race win streak into the Turf Sprint, the most recent coming in dramatic fashion. Trailing by as many as 15 lengths, the 6-year-old mare came flying late to capture the five-furlong The Very One Oct. 1 at Pimlico Race Course. Julian Pimentel returns to ride from Post 1.

Street Copper, unraced since running fifth by 2 ½ lengths in last year's Maryland Million Turf; So Street, winner of the Howard County Stakes last fall at Laurel; Love You Much, third in the Laurel Dash and Jim McKay Turf Sprint in his last two outings; Joseph, fifth in the Laurel Dash; Jammer and Godlovesasinner complete the field. Maryland-bred Stroll Smokin is the lone also-eligible.

Already a four-time winner of the event, trainer Dale Capuano can add to his record total with Gallinella and Gennie Highway in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies.

A winner of more than 3,500 career races including a chart-topping 11 in the Maryland Million, Capuano became the first trainer with four Ladies victories when 2013 heroine Monster Sleeping repeated in 2015. Capuano also won in back-to-back years with Caveat's Shot (2000) and Stal Quest (2001).

Capuano haltered Taking Risks Stable and Louis J. Ulman's Gennie Highway for $16,000 out of a third-place finish in a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint on the grass July 3. After an off-the-turf try where she ran last after stumbling at the start, the 4-year-old Seville filly stretched out to be third going 1 1/16 miles and a three-quarter-length winner Sept. 19 in a one-mile claimer originally carded for the grass.

“She was coming off a layoff and she ran on turf and it was early in the year so we figured we'd take a chance on her. Little did we know we were going to get rained out most of the year, but she did win an off the turf race so that helped,” Capuano said. “She's run pretty well in claiming races. This race is obviously a step up in class for her, but she might like the mile and an eighth. She's very consistent.”

Neil Glasser's Gallinella is another horse Capuano claimed for $16,000, after the 4-year-old daughter of Friesan Fire ran second by a half-length in a six-furlong claiming event on the main track. In the first start for the new connections, she raced near the back after getting bumped at the start but was able to get up for fourth in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance.

“We just got her. She's gotten into our program and she's bred decent for grass. The last race was a tough race, but she didn't run all that bad,” Capuano said. “For $100,000 we figured we might take a shot. Plus, she had trouble last time and it was her first time at a distance, and I thought she handled the distance OK.”

The 1-5 program favorite for the Ladies is R Larry Johnson and RDM Racing Stable's No Mo Lady, a Maryland-bred daughter of champion Uncle Mo who sits first on the also-eligible list and would need two scratches to get in. No Mo Lady has placed in three consecutive stakes, running second in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff at Indiana Grand and 1 1/8-mile All Along at Laurel, and third in the Gallorette (G3) last out Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course.

Charles J. Reed's Something Magical set the pace in last year's Ladies before fading to be fourth, beaten seven lengths by upset winner Zonda. The 5-year-old mare is winless in three tries this year, running second in her June 13 debut and returning from a three-month layoff to be sixth Oct. 8 in a pair of optional claimers.

Mosalah, Breviary, Epic Idea, Shifra Magician, Redeem My Heart and Little Lion Girl are also entered. Something Magical's Phil Schoenthal-trained stablemate Quiet Company is the second also-eligible.

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Channel Maker, Sadler’s Joy Face Off For The 15th Time In Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Grade 1-winning multimillionaires Channel Maker and Sadler's Joy will face one another for the 15th time, while each making their respective fourth straight appearance in Saturday's 43rd running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic honors the late horse racing columnist and founding president of the National Turf Writers Association, whose notable accomplishments include earning the Eclipse Award of Merit (1992) and the Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1993).

The 1 ½-mile mile test for older horses is one of five graded stakes events carded for Saturday's action-packed program, which also includes the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf; the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso for 3-year-olds and upward going a one turn mile over the main track; the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track, and the Grade 1 $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational – a classic-distance test for 3-year-olds over the inner turf.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic has historically been used as a prep towards the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Horses to have scored the Joe Hirsch-Breeders' Cup Turf double include Manila (1986), Theatrical (1987), Tikkanen (1994), Buck's Boy (1998), English Channel (2007) and Main Sequence (2014). Other prominent victors of the prominent turf event include the great John Henry (1984) and fan-favorite John's Call (2000), both of whom won the Joe Hirsch as 9-year-olds, and champions Waya (1978), All Along (1983), and Sky Classic (1992).

R.A. Hill Stable, Wachtel Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Gary Barber's Channel Maker, winner of the 2018 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will attempt to be the first non-consecutive winner of the race since Val's Prince won in 1997 and 1999.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Channel Maker was a wire-to-wire winner of the 2018 edition and was previously sixth in 2017 and second to Arklow in last year's running. The 6-year-old veteran of 35 lifetime starts arrives at the Joe Hirsch off a frontrunning victory in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational on August 29 at Saratoga, where he set an easy pace up front and responded well when urged by jockey Manny Franco, powering home in the final eighth of a mile to a 5 ¾-length triumph, garnering a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. He matched that figure when taking the 2018 Joe Hirsch.

“He seems to be doing well,” said Mott, whose other Joe Hirsch victories came with Theatrical (1987) and Shakespeare (2005). “Manny rode him very well the last couple of times and we're lucky to get him back. The race he ran last time, you can't expect that every time. But if he shows up, he's usually a factor.”

Channel Maker has been a Grade 1-winner on the NYRA circuit for the past three seasons. Four starts after his 2018 Joe Hirsch victory, he won the Grade 1 Man o' War in May 2019 over last year's Joe Hirsch winner Arklow and multiple Group 1-winner Magic Wand. He boasts the highest amount of lifetime earnings having amassed $2,494,051 in a record of 35-6-5-4.

Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, Channel Maker is by two-time Joe Hirsch winner English Channel (2006-07) and is out of the Horse Chestnut mare In Return, making him a full-brother to two-time Canadian Grade 1-winner Johnny Bear.

Franco will pilot Channel Maker for the fourth time in a row from post 3.

Woodslane Farm's homebred Sadler's Joy also makes his fourth appearance in the Joe Hirsch but is still in search of his first victory, having finished fourth in 2017 and third in the past two editions.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, the 7-year-old son of 2004 Joe Hirsch winner Kitten's Joy will attempt to make amends after finishing a distant fourth to Channel Maker in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational last out.

Sadler's Joy and Channel Maker first squared off in the 2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, which was won by Beach Patrol, where Sadler's Joy finished fourth as the post time favorite.

“It's a good rivalry. They've both finished ahead of each other in the past,” Albertrani said. “A lot will depend on the weather and who prefers softer ground, so hopefully the rain can hold off.”

As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service calls for a 10% chance of precipitation for the Elmont, New York area with a high of 68 degrees.

Albertrani said Sadler's Joy is trip dependent and he does not want to see his horse too far off the pace to where he will need to make up a significant amount of ground.

“His ideal trip is not getting back too far,” Albertrani said. “There's a point where you just can't have him back too far and have him lose too much ground. That's where the race is usually won or lost. In these races where he makes a late move, he usually runs the quickest last quarter. Sometimes in a smaller field it helps him, so we just have to hope that he gets the right kind of trip.”

Despite his age, Albertrani said Sadler's Joy still has what it takes to compete at a high level. This year, he was third beaten three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Manhattan. In his following start, he crossed the wire first in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga before being disqualified to fourth.

“He still has it in him. He still trains well and he's still into it,” Albertrani said. “Hopefully, we can win another big race with him.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will climb aboard Sadler's Joy for the 18th time from post 1.

Gestut Ittlingen's Laccario invades from Germany for trainer Andreas Wohler, whose only previous starter in the Joe Hirsch was Sabiango, who finished fourth in 2003.

The dark bay 4-year-old son of Scalo was seventh in his only start this year in the Group 1 Preis von Europa on August 15 at Cologne, which was his only off the board finish in eight lifetime starts. Laccario was a 1 ¼-length winner of the Group 1 Deutsches Derby in July 2019 at Hamburg going the Joe Hirsch distance.

Breaking from post 6, Laccario will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of contenders in Rockemperor and Master Piece.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Wonder Stables, Rockemperor joined Brown's stable last summer after previously being campaigned in France by Simone Brogi and has finished in the money five of his six starts in North America. The son of Holy Roman Emperor was a last out third to stablemate Digital Age in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on September 5 at Churchill Downs. In his prior effort, he was second beaten a neck to stablemate Instilled Regard in the Grade 1 Manhattan on July 4 at Belmont Park, where he registered a career-best 102 Beyer.

Bred in Ireland by Haras du Mezeray, Rockemperor is out of the Muhtathir mare Motivation whose dam Jade Island is a full-sister to multiple turf Grade 1-winning millionaire Yagli. He is a direct descendant of the prolific broodmare Best in Show.

Breaking from post 4, Rockemperor will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who seeks a third win in the prestigious stakes.

Master Piece, a Group 2-winner in his native Chile, will make his North American debut for Brown. Owned by Don Alberto Corporation, the gray or roan son of Mastercraftsman won four straight races in the latter part of 2019, including the Group 2 Gran Clasico Coronacion on December 8 at Club Hippico.

Jockey Jose Lezcano will ride Master Piece from post 2.

Rounding out the field are Three Diamonds Farm's New York-bred Cross Border [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], winner of the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga and Highland Sky [post 7, Junior Alvarado], who was third in the Bowling Green for trainer Barclay Tagg.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:40 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Sadler’s Joy Prepares for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Woodslane Farm’s Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy) worked a half-mile in :50.03 over Belmont’s main track Wednesday morning in preparation for his fourth appearance in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Oct. 3. Trained by Tom Albertrani, the 7-year-old finished fourth in 2017 and third in the past two editions of the Joe Hirsch. A veteran of 32 career starts, the late-running horse boasts a record of 7-4-10 with purse earnings in excess of $2.6 million.

“We’ll be looking at the Joe Hirsch next weekend for him,” confirmed Albertrani. “He’s doing really well. He came out of his last race fine and continues to train well.”

Sadler’s Joy closed for third in a pair of starts at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, including the 10-furlong GI Manhattan S. July 4. After crossing the wire first in the 11-furlong GII Bowling Green at Saratoga Aug. 1, the chestnut was disqualified and placed fourth for lugging in. Most recently, Sadler’s Joy finished fourth in a soggy renewal of the GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga Aug. 29.

“I think you just throw out his last race over soft going,” said Albertrani. “His two races prior to that, he won the Bowling Green and unfortunately got disqualified. He ran well that day and he ran well in the Manhattan. For him, it’s a matter of getting the right trip and saving some ground. With his big move, winning or losing with him is all about the ground he loses or saves.”

Albertrani offered updates on a pair of turf-running stablemates as well. Mark T. Anderson’s Beau Belle (Giant’s Causeway) and Elizabeth Mateo’s Lovely Lucky (Lookin At Lucky) will both make their next starts in the Oct. 10 GI Flower Bowl S., a ‘Win and You’re In’ event to the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“They’re both doing well and we’ll probably aim for the Flower Bowl with both of them,” confirmed Albertrani.

Last time out, Beau Belle, with Luis Saez up, set a moderate pace in the Sept. 5 GII Glens Falls S. over 11 furlongs before staying on to finish third, a length back of winner Civil Union (War Front) and just missing the exacta by a nose to My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}). Stablemate Lovely Lucky, accompanied by Jose Lezcano, was fourth.

“Lovely Lucky was being hard held the first part of the race [:53.22 opening half mile] and I don’t think it helped her any to be held up quite like that,” said Albertrani. “I think the distance of her winning or losing, or even getting a little closer, would have been beneficial if Jose had let her use a little more of her stride. It may have helped Beau Belle being on an easy lead, but it made the other filly not want to settle and it hurt her in that respect. If it comes up the same scenario, I don’t think we’ll hold up Lovely Lucky and just let her go to the front because Beau Belle is better at settling.”

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