LAUREL, MD. 10-06-12---Robert Gerczak’s Action Andy wrested command and never looked back as he sped to victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park.

Horacio Karamanos was in the irons as the son of Gators N Bears posted a time of 1:10.39 for the six furlong distance. Action Andy kept Javerre at bay to win by 2-3/4 lengths, while defending champion Sloane Ranger was a late arriving third.

“My horse was coming into this race from running longer races on the turf the last three times,” said Karamanos, who won the Sprint last year aboard Sloane Ranger. “Carlos wanted to try him on the dirt and it was a big change for us. In his last race the turf was soft and he didn’t like it but today he surprised me by getting on the lead and he was racing really nice and easy and when I asked him he gave me a really good kick.”

Action Andy is trained by Carlos Garcia. He paid $10.40.

“This horse has a lot of stamina,” said Garcia. “He’s a nice horse. He’s been coming off mile and mile and a sixteenth turf races. What worried me was not running on dirt for so long. We changed his training.  He has been racing and training on turf. He had not raced since May on dirt but he likes the dirt. We needed to work on him. We will give him a break until December, go to Tampa and come back again.”

This was the fourth stakes win this year for Action Andy, who took the Pelican and Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last winter and added the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs this spring.

This was the first Maryland Million win for Gators N Bears, who passed away earlier this year.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.