Big Cuddle looks to remain unbeaten in James F. Lewis III Stakes 
Slewperstitus faces open foes in Smart Halo Stakes 

LAUREL, MD—The exciting Big Cuddle, a late-kicking winner of the $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery on Oct. 11, looks to remain unbeaten in Saturday’s $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.  

The James F. Lewis Stakes shares top-billing on the Veterans Day program with the $100,000 Smart Halo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, also at three-quarters of a mile. Post time for the first of ten races is 12:00 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate.  

Active-duty military, veterans, and military families with military identification will receive 50% off food and beverages at all concession stands throughout the day.  

Big Cuddle, a bay colt by Maryland’s perennial leading sire, Great Notion, overcame a poor break and a wide trip to win the Nursery for trainer Gary Capuano, 17-year-old apprentice jockey Yedsit Hazlewood, and owner Pocket 3s Racing.  

“Today, that was phenomenal,” Capuano said in the winner’s circle. “Getting away bad like that and having to overcome. Gets dirt in his face, goes really wide, but still was able to grind them down.” 

It’s been a remarkable run for both Capuano and Hazlewood in 2025. The trainer has dominated 2-year-old racing in the Mid-Atlantic region with 17 juvenile victories. Hazlewood notched four winners on his first-ever Jim McKay Maryland Million card, and repeated the feat on Nov. 1.  

The waters get deeper for Big Cuddle on Saturday.  

Balboa is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line compiled by Ed DeRosa of Horse Racing Nation. An $875,000 yearling purchase by Not This Time, Balboa makes his debut for trainer Brittany Russell after racing four times in Southern California for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.  

A maiden winner in his second start, Balboa has recently campaigned in Grade 1 company, finishing fifth in both the Del Mar Futurity and American Pharoah Stakes.  

“Bob sent him in awesome shape,” Russell said. “He came in. He went right to work. He’s classy. His last workout was the work that made us think about [running in the stake]. Usually, it takes us a little longer to get them settled in and get to know them a bit, but he’s been super straightforward. Hopefully, we can get him back into a rhythm. I think he has talent to show.” 

Balboa raced with blinkers in his first three starts. Russell puts them back on for the James F. Lewis Stakes.  

“I put them on him the second time I worked him, and the work was really good,” Russell noticed. “He’s a big, straightforward horse, but I think he’s a little immature. When we put the blinkers on, we saw a more focused horse.” 

Channel the Music ships down from his New Jersey base for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. 

Purchased for $200,000 earlier this year by Colts Neck Stables, Channel the Music graduated in his second start, a maiden special weight on dirt at Colonial Downs, then finished third in Monmouth’s Sapling Stakes at one mile on Aug. 30. In his most recent outing, Channel the Music finished last of six when trying turf for the first time in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Futurity.  

“When we bought him, he looked like a very compact, willing, good-minded horse,” Duarte said. “Since Day One, he’s been really easy to train. I think six furlongs to seven-eighths hits him right in the eye.” 

Duarte is pleased with how Channel the Music bounced back after the Futurity. “He hasn’t missed an oat. He looks great. For a horse that hasn’t missed a day of training, he has a lot of energy.” 

Gurney Halleck, never off the board from three starts, captured Charles Town’s Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes at 4 ½ furlongs on Sept. 20. Three weeks later, the Practical Joke colt finished second as the odds-on favorite in the West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Breeders’ Classic at 6 ½ furlongs. Trained by Jeff Runco, Gurney Halleck earned a 78 Beyer in the Vincent Moscarelli, and that is the best last speed figure heading into this race.  

Max Capacity earned his chance in the James F. Lewis III Stakes with a sharp pacesetting score in a first-level allowance race at six furlongs on Oct. 26.  

“I knew he had the talent,” trainer Richard Sillaman said in the winner’s circle. “He just had to put it all together. He needs time to mature, and I think he’s going to go long. I guess we’ve got to try a stake now.” 

Sillaman purchased the Maxfield colt for $36,000 at Ocala in April.  

“The production line on the mare sire is unbelievable,” Sillaman said. “Just perfect. I buy a lot of [progeny] by first-crop sires. I try to get lucky that way.” 

Lundi Loot finished third in the Maryland Million Nursery, beaten a length by Big Cuddle, after breaking from the inside post position. 

Lynn Ashby conditions the First Mondays gelding. 

Star Sweeper, Wildncrazyguy, stakes-placed Sometime, Springhawk, and Capuano’s Hollywood Import also entered. 

*Slewperstitus faces open foes in Smart Halo Stakes 

Slewperstitus, a game winner of the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie for trainer Robbie Bailes, steps up to face open company for the first time in the Smart Halo Stakes.  

A homebred daughter of Great Notion owned by Eric Rizer, Slewperstitus has a special place in the heart of jockey Jevian Toledo. The Lassie triumph propelled Toledo past Hall of Famer Edgar Prado as the all-time winningest rider in Jim McKay Maryland Million history.  
Slewperstitus, the odds-on Lassie favorite, overcame a wide trip to win by a neck. 

“I wish I could have saved a little bit more ground on the turn, but I felt like I had too much horse,” Toledo said after the trophy presentation. “I got the best horse, so I had to go around because I don’t want to get caught in traffic later on. I went around and I asked her. She scared me a little bit because I felt like I was going to go by so easily. When I asked her a couple of times to get on a roll, she picked it up and showed her class.” 

Before the Lassie, Bailes felt confident about his chances. “She showed a lot of good things [before she ran],” the trainer said. “We’ve liked her all along. She’s an easy-training filly. She’s one of those horses [where] the trainer has to make sure not to mess up.” 

Just Philtored, the 2-1 favorite on DeRosa’s line, won her first two starts on dirt, then wired the field in Colonial’s restricted Dolly Madison Stakes on grass on Aug. 23. She tasted defeat for the first time in her most recent start, Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Matron on Oct. 2. 

The Great Notion filly was purchased privately after winning her debut by eight lengths on May 23, and was transferred from Capuano to trainer Mike Trombetta. 

“Back to the dirt, and everything is good,” Trombetta said. “I think she’s training just as good, if not better [than before the Matron].”  Just Philtored breaks from the rail on Saturday, but Trombetta seemed unconcerned.  

“I’m sure there will be a pace factor in there,” he said. “If she’s a part of it, that’s fine. If they’re in a big hurry, that’s okay, too. She can sit.” 

Trainer Will Walden entered two fillies, but said on Wednesday afternoon that Beach Heist will scratch. That leaves him with Hollen Drive, a pace-pressing debut winner of a maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 1.  

“She ran very well,” Walden said. “She was well-prepared for that spot, but I thought she did very well in the afternoon. She takes her work in stride and seems to enjoy it. We feel like she’s coming into this race well.” 

A homebred daughter of Practical Joke owned by Larry Best’s OXO Equine, Hollen Drive is a half-sister to Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Mitole, and Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie.  

“We want to secure some black type,” Walden admitted. “With the pedigree she’s got, it’ll alleviate the pressure and [we can] go from there.” 

Russell counters with Prosecco Rita, a 9 ¼ length winner of her second start, a maiden special weight going seven furlongs at Laurel on Oct. 10. The Yaupon filly is out of Grade 3-winning sprinter Agave Kiss. 

“Her works in the morning were always really good,” Russell said. “We feel like she’s a filly that’s always shown she has talent. She’s a little bit difficult, though, and that’s the thing that we need to see improve. She’s a little bit of a handful in the paddock. It’s all those things with her. If she can do things right mentally, we know she can run.” 

Capuano trains Doc’s Miracle, who was only beaten a neck by Slewperstitus in the Maryland Million Lassie. In that race, the Long River filly did all the heavy lifting up front, rebuffing two pace foes before succumbing to the winner.  

Wesawtaylorinparis, Tipmanee, and Capuano’s speedy Sweet Shenanigans complete the field.