JACK ON THE ROCKS BATTLES BACK TO WIN MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT
LAUREL, MD. 10-02-10----Funky Munky Stable LLC’s Jack On the Rocks led into deep stretch, lost the lead but then surged back to win the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park.
Under smart handling by jockey Sheldon Russell, aboard for his second winner of the afternoon, Jack On The Rocks sprinted to a half-length victory in 1:09.85 for the six furlong distance. A very gutsy Celtic Innis appeared to be a winner a 1/16th of a mile out before Jack On The Rocks made one more thrust for the front.
“This horse was very game today,” Russell said. “I was really pleased Gary brought him down from New York for this race. He went 7/8ths last out and he came up just a little short. I wasn’t concerned today when the horse came up to me in the stretch because my horse was still running at full speed and as we continued on the other horse didn’t.”
Jack On The Rocks ($8.20), an offspring of Outflanker who is trained by Gary Gullo in New York, was winning for the first time in a stakes. He had shipped to Laurel from Belmont Park for his previous start, finishing a game second to Maryland Million Classic morning line favorite In The Juice two weeks ago.
“The horse that ran second tried his heart out, gave his all, and I almost had a heart attack,” Gullo said. “My horse got beat that way one time at Saratoga but he kept going today. I thought we’d be out there racing at the front but I thought Roaring Lion would be the one out there. He’s based at Belmont and I brought him down here before just to give him a race over the track. I thought we came down to win but it didn’t quite happen last time.”
It was another outstanding Maryland Million effort by Celtic Innis in his 45th and likely final start of his career. The Tim Keefe trainee won this race in 2008 and was second in 2006 and 2009. The 8-year-old son of Yarrow Brae is nine-for-38 with 27 in the money finishes at the 6-furlong distance and now has earnings of $648,638.
“It was a great effort,” Keefe said. “He is a cool horse and means everything to our barn. We have had him since he was a 2-year-old and he always tries. He’s just a notch below a really good horse but inside he thinks he’s a classic winner. That’s why he has made $650,000. He thinks he is that good. We think this will be his last race, maybe something at the end of the year but this is probably it.”
Roaring Lion, the 1-2 betting favorite and defending champion, broke behind the leaders and despite a rally, could finish no closer than third.
“No excuses,” said Elvis Trujillo, who rode Roaring Lion. He broke okay. Everything was fine. He got behind. He was moving up nicely, just couldn’t catch the winner going down the stretch.”
-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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