LAUREL, MD – Big Tankness ran to his looks and to his backing when wiring Friday’s seventh race at Laurel Park, a $45,000 maiden special weight for Maryland-bred or -sired performers at six furlongs.

Visual handicappers had a field day as the six horses entered the paddock in all shapes and sizes.

Five-time maiden Falcon Blue, saddled on the walk, seemed fresh and eager.

Second-time starter Decorum grouchily kicked a paddock pillar before heading into his stall.

Well-bred Brightshininglight received a pat on the nose from his owner, Mrs. Ellen Charles, and then acted antsy while circling the walking ring.

Second-time runner Bald Cypress refused to be saddled, sending equipment flying in all directions. Once on the racetrack, he immediately ran off from his pony under jockey Matilda Burnham.

Tell ‘Em I’m Comin acted like he’d done this a million times. In reality, this was only the twenty-second time to the post for the only 4-year-old in a field full of sophomores.

Then there was Big Tankness. The first-time starter strutted into the paddock, dappled out, fit, and looking like a million dollars. Calm and composed, Big Tankness was doubtlessly the paddock pick.

The money poured in on the Jamie Ness-trained Big Tankness, and he left the starting gate the 6-5 favorite under jockey Jaime Rodriguez.

Big Tankness needed a stride or two to get going, and then he went right to the front from his inside post position. Big Tankness sped an opening quarter in 22.06 seconds while pressed by Decorum, Bald Cypress, and Brightshininglight.

Brightshininglight, a More Than Ready gelding out of multiple stakes-winner Shimmering Aspen, loomed large outside Big Tankness after a half-mile in 45.90, but the eventual winner had another gear. He turned back Brightshininglight, then just had enough in the, um, tank, to hold off Tell ‘Em I’m Comin to win by a half-length in 1:12.13 over the fast track.

Brightshininglight placed another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Then came Falcon Blue, Bald Cypress, and Decorum. Big Tankness returned $4.40 to win.

“I was a little bit afraid of the one-hole, [being a] first-time starter,” Rodriguez said. “You never know how they’re going to break out of there. He got the jump a little slow, but I used him a bit early just to put him into the race. Once he got a head in front, he pricked the ears, and I just let him catch his breath. Once [Brightshininglight] got next to him, he just kept going and never gave up.”

Big Tankness is a homebred owned by Ness’s Jagger Inc. “He never showed a lot of gate speed,” Ness said by telephone after the race. “He’s a big horse, hence the name. He’s just a late-maturing horse. It took a while to get to the races, but he always had a lot of talent. His mom was a big horse. That was her first foal, so it’s exciting. It’s a testament to the breeding program. It’s a long grind from when this horse was born to today.”

A gelding by Uncle Lino, Big Tankness is out of Neva’s Gal, a Gio Ponti mare that Ness claimed for $20,000. She won two of seven races for the barn before retiring.

Rodriguez believes Big Tankness has a bright future. “I love him,” he said. “If he keeps going the way he’s doing, I think we’re going to have a nice horse right there.”

*Around the track:

Live racing resumes Saturday afternoon with a nine-race program featuring the $100,000 Ben’s Cat and $100,000 Jameela, both restricted stakes races at six furlongs on turf. The first post time is 12:10 pm ET…On Sunday afternoon, Laurel Park hosts “Rosé On the Rail.” Indoor seating tickets are available. For more information, please click here.