Coringa captures John Deere Maryland Million Turf in gate-to-wire style
Worth a Dime mints a TAA Maryland Million Ladies upset

LAUREL, MD--Jevian Toledo has been a Maryland racing mainstay over the past several years, but he ensured his place in the record books on Saturday when he guided Had to Have Him to victory in the 1/ST BET Maryland Million Turf Sprint.

The 4-year-old gelding came into the race off a victory in the Laurel Dash on September 13 against open company and ran a similar race against five fellow Maryland-sired sprinters. He drafted in fourth place in the early stages, while 11-10 favorite Had to Have Him battled with Tidewater and Noah Chance.

As they rounded the turn, Toledo moved Had to Have Him in the four-path, and the gelding responded. He switched leads at the eighth pole, took command at the sixteenth, and won by three-quarters of a length. Whenigettoheaven was second, while 17-1 Great Idea rallied from last for third. The final time for 5 ½ furlongs was 1:02.47.

The victory was Toledo’s 19th in the Jim McKay Maryland Million, setting a record for most riding victories in Maryland Million history. He previously shared the mark with Hall of Famer Edgar Prado. Toledo previously won the Turf Sprint with Grateful Bred in 2021 and Witty in 2023.

Had to Have Him paid $4.80 to win as the second choice. He’s by former Anchor and Hope Farm stallion Force the Pass. He was bred by Wes Carter and is owned by Gracie Mae Stables and Great Lake Stables, who claimed him for $20,000 last year. John Salzman Jr. is the winning trainer; this was his fourth Maryland Million victory, and his first since Buff My Boots in the 2021 Lassie.

*Coringa captures John Deere Maryland Million Turf in gate-to-wire style

It’s fitting that John Deere sponsored the Maryland Million Turf, as Coringa certainly ran like a deer in this year’s edition. He hit the front early and never stopped to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

Coringa drew in off the also-eligible list following the scratch of Sky’s Not Falling, and when he did, he instantly became a contender. Even from his far outside draw, he profiled as the main early speed and looked like a threat to wire the field. The betting public responded in kind, sending him off as the 13-10 favorite.

Mychel Sanchez gave a heads-up ride, going right to the lead and opening up two lengths by the time they hit the opening quarter. Goodbye Note began to press him up the backstretch and forced him into a respectably fast first half of 47.11 seconds and a three-quarter mile split of 1:11.00.

However, Coringa had more to give. He dismissed Goodbye Note’s challenge and opened up in the stretch, leading by 4 ½ lengths when they passed the eighth pole. New York invader Youknownothing closed the margin late, but the wire came in time for Coringa to secure the victory.

He ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.82, the fastest time for a 1 1/8-mile edition of the Turf since Roadhog won the 2012 edition in 1:47.15.

The late R. Larry Johnson bred Coringa. He’s the third Maryland Million winner bred by the longtime Mid-Atlantic racing titan. He improved to 4-7-0 in his 14-race career with earnings of over $240,000 for owners Clark Ohrstrom, Gregory Kilka, Awestrike Racing, and Benjamin Gowans and trainer Mike Trombetta.

Trombetta is now in third place in the all-time Maryland Million trainer standings with 11 wins, trailing only Dale Capuano with 15 and Jerry Robb with 12.

*Worth a Dime mints a TAA Maryland Million Ladies upset

Every dollar bet on Worth a Dime ended up being worth 118 dimes, as the Tim Keefe-trained filly closed from off the pace to win the TAA Maryland Million Ladies by 2 1/2 lengths in a surprise victory.

2023 Ladies champion Precious Avary went out and set the early pace, as expected, going through an opening quarter of 23.20 and a first half of 47.31. Worth a Dime was seventh on the first turn and last up the backstretch.

Precious Avary clung to a slight lead as they turned for home, but numerous challengers moved to engage at the top of the stretch, with just about every one of the eight in with a chance.

Jorge Ruiz moved Worth a Dime to midtrack at about the eighth pole, and the filly responded in kind. She accelerated to the front and left them behind in the lane, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.90. Juniper Juice finished second, while All Gas No Brakes was third.

Worth a Dime is now a two-time winner in six starts, having broken her maiden on debut on the Laurel grass on May 23. She’s by Country Life Farm stallion Mosler and is a homebred for Victor Frenkil’s Nancy Lee Farms.

This is his first Maryland Million victory as an owner or breeder. Keefe is now a two-time winner of the Ladies, previously scoring in 2022 with Coconut Cake, and an eight-time Maryland Million winner lifetime. Ruiz, riding Worth a Dime for the first time, picked up his sixth career Maryland Million victory.