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Cuba Dominates In Jim McKay Maryland Million Classic

Cuba Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC

     LAUREL, MD. 10-04-08---Leo-Sag Stable, Corrigan and Levesque’s Cuba made it look easy as he powered to victory in the $300,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Classic.

     The Maryland Million is the second-most important racing day in the state after the Preakness, 12 races for runners sired by Maryland-based stallions with combined purses totaling $1.68 million. The 23rd annual event drew a crowd of 24,442, the fifth largest in the history of the event, on a picture perfect fall afternoon.

     Claimed this winter at Gulfstream Park for just $18,000, the son of Not For Love has been transformed, at age seven in the care of trainer Bobby Dibona, into a graded stakes performer. Before this start he finished fifth in the Grade III Iselin at Monmouth Park and third in the $500,000 Mass Cap at Suffolk Downs two weeks ago. He has won six of ten since changing hands with nine in the money finishes.

     “He has never run a bad race since I claimed him,” said Dibona. “It is tough not to have confidence. When this race came up on the light side I thought we had to take a shot. He has run well on short rest so it worked out beautiful. He is the coolest horse. He is great to be around-he does everything push button like a champ. Don’t you think he didn’t know for one minute what was going on today.”

     Pedro Cotto Jr., Cuba’s regular rider, sat chilly on his mount, racing in third as Diamond David and Blue’s Baby Boy raced in first and second respectively through the opening mile of the one mile and three-sixteenths test. Cotto signaled for Cuba to go as they rounded the far turn and was content to remain a passenger as they galloped by the leaders at the top of the lane. They drew away down the stretch, winning by four lengths while under a hand ride. Cuba’s winning time was 1:57.78.

     Cuba rewarded his backers with $4.40 to win and topped a $40.40 exacta and a $121.20 triple.

     Cotto said, “I took him back a little early on. We thought the one and five would go and they did. It played right for us. We waited, then when I asked him he went. He did a real good job. I’m supposed to ride at The Meadowlands tonight but I think I’m going to call off.”

     Diamond David finished a very gutsy second, beating defending champion Evil Storm by a head. Betting favorite Five Steps was fourth and Blue’s Baby Boy tired to last. Diamond David has finished second and third in previous runnings of the Classic.

     Mario Pino (Diamond David, second), said, “He ran awesome today. He really ran his race. Nancy had him ready and we just couldn’t beat the winner.”

     Nancy Alberts (Diamond David owner-trainer) said, “I’m tickled pink with him. He had just enough horse left to hold off Evil Storm. Mario did that. Mario used to ride his mother, Jazema. We’re sure happy with the way he rode this one.”

     Jeremy Rose (Evil Storm, third) said, “He tried hard. I can’t ask any more of him.”

     Michael Gorham (Evil Storm trainer) said, “We were in a good position throughout the race to win if we had enough horse. I thought at the top of the lane we might have enough kick to challenge the winner, but he is a good horse. We ran our race and we just weren’t good enough.”

     J.D. Acosta (Five Steps, fourth) said, “Everything went as we planned early. We started going good, then suddenly he started getting tired on me. I don’t know what happened. I seriously don’t know what happened because he is a really good horse, normally.”

     Chris Grove (Five Steps trainer) said, “This is very uncharacteristic of him. I wonder if he wants to go this long. He just wasn’t there today. We’ll make a decision in a couple weeks where we send him next. I don’t have an answer for this one.”

     Luis Garcia (Blue’s Baby Boy, fifth) said, “He got tired. It was a bit too much for him.”

     Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million has been duplicated by 22 other states. Hall of Fame TV Broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the Maryland Million concept and remained the Chairman of the Board until his death on June 7. Earlier on the card a special tribute was paid to McKay in the winners’ circle, which included a package from HRTV’s “McKay’s Maryland”, a 30-minute retrospective on McKay’s legendary career.

     “I think Dad would have been a little overwhelmed,” said Mary McManus Guba, McKay’s daughter. “He was a modest man but he would have been thrilled beyond words.”

     Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (D) District 41 is planning to propose to the Maryland Legislature that, with a joint resolution, McKay’s name is to be officially adopted by Maryland Million’s Board of Directors for the annual racing program beginning next year.

     “It is a tremendous honor,” added Guba. “He has received so many honors but for this to be named after him and that for how it will be known means so much to our family.”

     The Maryland Million continues to receive strong support from Maryland's extensive breeding industry, which includes more than 200 farms. Maryland-sired Thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. After 23 runnings, 204 stallions have been represented in Maryland Million races.

     The Breeders’ Cup Legends Tour made a stop at Laurel Park with Hall of Fame riders Pat Day, Angel Cordero and Laffit Pincay on hand to sign autographs throughout the afternoon. Pincay rode four Maryland Million winners, including the 1987 Maryland Million Nursery aboard Sean’s Ferrari, a horse owned by McKay and named after his son Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and Sports.

     Country music star Andy Griggs held a special concert between the sixth and seventh races. The 35-year-old has had nearly 15 songs hit Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, including “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” and “She’s More”, which both peaked at number two on the charts in 1999.

-MJC-