LAUREL, MD. 10-02-08---The $300,000 Maryland Million Classic headlines Saturday’s Maryland Million but the race with the most quality is the $150,000 Maryland Million Distaff, the 10th race on the 12-race card. The nine fillies and mares have combined for 68 wins (19 stakes) for more than $3.1 million.
Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Frank Carulli tabbed Fancy Diamond the lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite in the seven-furlong test. The daughter of Eastern Echo has won four of six starts but has yet to win an added money race. She’ll make her first start for Mike Maker, who claimed the four-year-old from Tony Dutrow at Saratoga. Jeremy Rose will ride.
Jet Away Jane (7-2) has five stakes wins on her resume, including back-to-back scores in Pennsylvania. The daughter of Unbridled Jet has won four of six during the 2008 campaign for trainer Thomas Miller. Angel Rodriguez, her regular rider, will be aboard.
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Lexi Star
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Lexi Star (4-1) has also won five stakes and earned more than $575,000 despite being overshadowed by former stablemate Silmaril. The daughter of Crypto Star comes into the race off a solid third place finish in the Grade II Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park in August but has never raced at the distance. J.D. Acosta, who is a perfect two-for-two on the six-year-old mare, will be in the irons for trainer Chris Grove.
“She’s coming into the race in excellent shape,” said Grove, who won the Distaff with Silmaril two years ago. “I’m really happy with the way she’s training into this race. At the one turn mile she’s been very tough. Asking her to step up to seven-eighths is going to be difficult but I truly believe she’s ready for it. It’s certainly a legitimate race and there’s also going to be a legitimate pace factor which is what I was hoping for for Lexi.”
Spectacular Malibu (5-1) is three-for-four at her home track, including a victory in the 2006 Maryland Million Lassie. The daughter of Malibu Moon has six in the money finishes from nine starts this year after missing 2007 with an injury. Julian Pimentel rides for trainer Mike Trombetta.
“The race is going to have enough speed in it that we’re going to be a force late because there’s going to be a lively pace and she’s going to be real solid at that distance,” Trombetta said. “It’s going to be a good race to watch.”
Multiple stakes winners For Kisses and All Giving are 8-1 on the morning line. La Chica Rica, with more than $460,000 in the bank is 10-1 and Talkin About Love, who has earned more than a half-million dollars in her career, is 12-1. Loveyasister is the longest shot on the board at 20-1.
Another intriguing race on the program is the $150,000 Maryland Million Lassie. The seven-furlong test features 10 two-year-old fillies who have won 16 of 23 career races. Fools in Love is the 5-2 morning line favorite but three Laurel Park-based fillies are primed for big efforts.
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Trainer Jerry Robb
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Onearmedbandit (3-1) is a perfect four-for-four, including a stakes win at Charles Town in August. Trainer Jerry Robb named the daughter of No Armistice with the plight for slots in Maryland in mind.
“I knew this was a do or die year for the slots. The name’s fitting for this year with the referendum a month away,” said Robb. “She’s done everything we’ve asked her to so far, we’ll just see if she gets the distance. Toughest field she’s had to run against, no doubt about that.”
Miss Charm City (4-1) is unbeaten in two starts, including the Gin Talking Stakes at Laurel last month. The daughter of Bowman’s Band had a bullet half-mile breeze yesterday in preparation.
“My filly is in great shape,” said trainer Carlos Garcia said. “It’s going to be a very good and a very tough race.”
Both Garcia and Robb indicated Blind Date (5-1) is another horse to watch. The daughter of Not For Love broke her maiden in impressive fashion for Hamilton Smith at Laurel on September 5.
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Off The Glass
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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In the opener, the $50,000 Maryland Million Starter Handicap two-time defending champion Off The Glass, is looking to become the fifth three-time winner of a Maryland Million race- joining Docent, Countus In, Mz. Zill Bear and Safely Kept. However the son of Press Card is a 20-1 longshot for trainer Linda Albert.
“We’ve had a hard time getting races for him,” said Albert, of her nine-year old gelding who has not won in five starts since the Maryland Million score. “But he’s doing really well.”
Other horses with a chance to defend Maryland Million titles are Evil Storm (Classic), Maddy’s Heart (Ladies), Grand Champion (Sprint) and Swear to It (Distaff Starter Handicap).
“Maryland Million for me means more than Preakness day,” said Tim Keefe, who will saddle three starters Saturday. “Everybody’s here and this is what you’re trying to do, with everybody in Maryland watching what you do.”
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