SATURDAY’S JIM MCKAY MARYLAND MILLION DAY FEATURES 110 STARTERS
LAUREL, MD. 09-29-10---The 25th Jim McKay Maryland Million, a festive homecoming for Marylanders, attracted 110 entrants to the eleven race program which will be presented this Saturday at Laurel Park. First post for the $1.05 million day is 12:35 p.m.
In the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at 1 1/8 miles, a wide-open field of eight could face the starter including the 2008 champion.
Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Frank Carulli has tabbed In the Juice as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The son of Rock Slide has won two straight, including an impressive score in an allowance test here on Sept. 11. The Jerry Robb trainee has finished on the board in five consecutive starts.
“I think he has a good shot,” said Robb, of his colt who was fifth in last year’s Classic. “Last year he was a three-year-old. This year he belongs and I’m looking forward to it. He’s just matured and is peaking at the right time.”
Cuba, who won the Classic two years ago and finished second in 2009, has been made the co-fourth choice at 5-1. Claimed by trainer Greg Sacco two weeks ago at Monmouth Park for Maryland native Dan Eubanks of Rising Sun Racing Stable, Inc., the 9-year-old son of Not For Love has won one time in nine tries this year.
“You don’t claim nine year olds every day but he’s a neat horse that I have followed since he was on the Kentucky Derby trail years ago,” Sacco said. “He still has a lot of life in him. It’s a pleasure to be around him and he loves Laurel. Mr. Eubanks is from Annapolis and Maryland Million is a big thing with his family. They’ll all be there Saturday and hopefully we’ll have a good story to report.”
Regal Solo (4-1), who won the 2007 Maryland Million Nursery, was claimed by Damon Dilodovico thirteen months ago for this spot and the gelding responded with a third place finish. This year, the son of 1996 Preakness winner Louis Quatorze has just two starts, a victory at Delaware Park in early August and a fourth place finish behind In The Juice here on Sept. 11.
“He’s doing well but wasn’t as sharp as the Delaware race but we’re real happy with how he came out of his race,” said Dilodovico, who has four Maryland Million victories on his resume, all off the claim. “All systems go for this weekend.”
Not Abroad (9-2) has been first or second in nine of 13 career starts, including a second in the Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel last December. Nick Petro rides the 3-year-old son of Not For Love for his brother Mike.
Regal Warrior (5-1) has had a consistent 3-year-old campaign with five in the money finishes in seven starts. Trained by Mike Trombetta, the son of Louis Quatorze spent his summer at Saratoga with a fourth in the Curlin Stakes and a third in the Pleasant Colony Stakes.
“He ran pretty credible at Saratoga against some quality horses,” Trombetta said. “He trains pretty well over this track so we thought we’d give it a shot.”
Dale Capuano captured the 2006 Classic with Due, at odds of nearly 10-1, for Rob Ry Farm and Jayne Marie Slysz. In Saturday’s main event, Capuano will saddle Northpoint Costas (12-1) for the same ownership group. The son of Bowman’s Band won the Deputed Testamony Stakes on the Preakness day undercard and has a 9-3-2-1 record during his 4-year-old campaign.
“I’m going to let him go as far as he can go as fast as he can go, said Capuano, who is tied with Bill Boniface with eight Maryland Million victories. “Other than the Preakness this is the biggest day we have in this state.”
Movin’ Out (12-1) has won two of his last three starts, both at Philadelphia Park, including the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association Classic on Sept. 11. Eric Camacho will ride the son of Diamond for trainer Keith Lebarron.
Trainer Tim Keefe cross entered Eighttofasttocatch (20-1) in the Classic and $100,000 Maryland Million Turf. Keefe indicated the son of Not For Love will run in the Turf. All four of his 2010 starts have been on the grass.
“I think a mile and an eighth on the dirt is a little too long for him,” Keefe said. “It should be a little easier to get the distance on the turf, so that is a better spot.”
The Classic is the 10th race on the program with a post time of 5:55 p.m.
Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million, a program of races restricted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions, has been duplicated by 22 other states. Maryland-sired Thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. After twenty-four runnings, 211 stallions have been represented in Maryland Million races.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the concept and remained Chairman of the Board until his death two years ago. Twenty times attendance figures have topped 20,000 for the event.
The first 4,000 full-paid admissions and Maryland-licensed owners and trainers will each receive a free Maryland Million Sport Cap. On-track entertainment between races will feature Goshen Fox hounds, the Master of the Horse for Medieval Times, retired racehorses from Thoroughbred Placement & Rescue Inc. and CANTER Mid-Atlantic plus a display from Special Olympics Maryland.
Country music sensation James Otto will hold a special concert in-between the fifth and sixth races. The 37-year-old will be performing his 2007 number one single “Just Got Started Lovin You” and his current chart-climbing single “Groovy Little Summer Song”.
HRTV will have a live presence for the entire card with hosts Caton Bredar and Dick Jerardi on site.
$150,000 Maryland Million Classic (11th Race)
PP Horse Jockey Trainer Odds Notes
1 Movin’ Out Eric Camacho Keith Lebarron 12-1 won 2 of last 3 starts
2 Northpoint Costas Open Dale Capuano 12-1 in the money 8-of-14
3 Not Abroad Nick Petro Michael Petro 9-2 first or second in 9 of 13
4 Cuba Elvis Trujillo Greg Sacco 5-1 2008 Classic winner
5 Regal Solo Sheldon Russell Damon Dilodovico 4-1 won 2007 Nursery
6 Eighttofasttocatch Luis Garcia Tim Keefe 20-1 expected to run in Turf
7 In the Juice Oliver Castillo Jerry Robb 5-2 4th in 2008 Nursery
8 Regal Warrior Julian Pimentel Mike Trombetta 5-1 in the money 7-of-12
Here is a capsule of the other ten races on Saturday’s program. A more detailed advance will be produced Thursday:
$100,000 Lassie (1st race)
Seven 2-year-old fillies are entered, headlined by multiple stakes winner Twelve Pack Shelly, who broke the 4 ½ furlong record at Laurel in her debut in April.
$100,000 Nursery (2nd race)
Eleven 2-year-olds will start, including Steady Warrior, the son of 2002 Nursery winner Cherokee’s Boy.
$50,000 Starter Handicap (3rd race)
With probable favorite Northpoint Costas likely for Classic this becomes a wide-open affair.
$100,000 Distaff (4th race)
Defending champion All Giving, 2009 Maryland Million Oaks winner Love That Dance and graded stakes winner Blind Date headline the field of eight fillies and mares.
$100,000 Turf Sprint (5th race)
Eleven are entered including defending champion Natural Seven, 2008 winner Kosmo’s Buddy, who beat the boys two years ago, millionaire Heros Reward and undefeated Ben’s Cat.
$100,000 Sprint (6th race)
Defending champion Roaring Lion and 2008 winner Celtic Innis appear to be the strongest runners in the field.
$100,000 Turf (7th race)
Ten evenly-matched grass specialists are entered.
$100,000 Oaks (8th race)
Lil Kiara and Ben’s Boots, who were 1-2 in last year’s Lassie, top the field.
$100,000 Ladies (9th race)
Eleven turf specialists will compete, including defending champion Talkin About Love and the consistent Love’s Blush from the Rodney Jenkins stable.
$50,000 Distaff Starter Handicap (11th race)
Fourteen horses are entered in the one-mile test, including defending champion Serenadia.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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