MM Classic, Richest of Eight Stakes, Four Starter Stakes, on ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’ (MJC Photo)
> Intrepid Daydream Extends Streak in $100,000 Distaff
>> Toledo Gets Four Wins on the Day
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Matt Spencer, Kelly Jo Cox and Bonuccelli Racing’s Ain’t Da Beer Cold, longest shot in the field at 35-1, was promoted to the win after the disqualification of first-place finisher Market Maven in Saturday’s $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park.
The 1 1/8-mile Classic for 3-year-olds and up headlined the 38th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program of 12 races featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes on ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races,’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.
It was the fourth win of the day for jockey Jevian Toledo including victories in the $100,000 Turf Sprint with Witty and $100,000 Distaff aboard Intrepid Daydream, and his 17th in Maryland Million history, moving him into a tie with Ramon Dominguez for second all-time behind fellow Hall of Famer Edgar Prado (18).
Trainer Kenny Cox earned his first Maryland Million win with Ain’t Da Beer Cold ($75), who ran eighth in the Classic in 2021 and 2022.
“We just went in there hoping he would show up,” Cox said. “He’s had terrible form. We’ve had a bunch of excuses, and I don’t like making excuses. If he doesn’t show up today, give us an effort, we would go ahead and turn him out. It wasn’t the toughest Maryland Million Classic, so we have to take a shot and turn him out after this.
“Me and Jevian talked about it and he’s like, ‘I want to send him today,’” he added. “I said ‘Put him on the lead. That’s exactly my thoughts. We got nothing to lose and take it from there.’”
Toledo hustled Ain’t Da Beer Cold, a 5-year-old homebred gelding by Freedom Child, to the front from Post 7 and went the opening quarter mile in 23.59 seconds with Market Maven in pursuit, 19-1 long shot Dolice Vita saving ground inside and 6-5 favorite Double Crown in the clear three wide in fourth.
Market Maven continued to track the leader through a half in 48.40 when Grade 3 winner Double Crown moved up to be third. The two front-runners straightened for home together and raced side-by-side through the lane, with Ain’t Da Beer Cold grudgingly giving way approaching the wire. Following an objection lodged by Toledo, Market Maven was disqualified and placed second for interference.
“I had no idea, to be honest,” Cox said of the objection. “I went back to congratulate him, what a great effort, and he’s like, ‘I got to run in here,’ and I knew there was something at that point. I didn’t know what had happened. I just wanted to watch it. I saw some bumping and I said it could go either way on this call. You know, I just hope there was some luck on my side today.”
Double Crown finished third, followed by Dolice Vita, All Threes, Loose Ends, Rhumjar and Ournationonparade. Maryland-bred also-eligibles Super Accelerate, Frightland and Big Blue Line were scratched.
Ournationonparade was trying to become the first repeat winner of the Classic since Admirals War Chest in 2015-16 and just the seventh horse with three lifetime Maryland Million wins.
Ain’t Da Beer Cold had placed in three prior stakes, the most recent in the Feb. 18 John B. Campbell, when he ran third behind multiple stakes winners Nimitz Class and Ournationonparade. He now has six wins, five seconds and four thirds from 32 career starts.
“I don’t know what to say. This is better than the Preakness,” breeder-owner Matt Spencer said. “It’s a dream come true. This horse is all heart. Toledo says he’s going to the lead and let’s see what happens. Let’s see how far he can go. Thankfully we got put up. I didn’t think it was going to happen. The racing gods were good to us today.”
Intrepid Daydream Extends Streak in $100,000 Distaff
Paul Fowler Jr.’s Intrepid Daydream took the lead from pacesetting Response Time at the top of the stretch and sprinted clear to extend her win streak to three races with a three-length triumph in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park.
The seven-furlong Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older and $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs were among eight stakes and four starter stakes that comprised the 37th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.
A 4-year-old homebred daughter of Jess’s Dream, Intrepid Daydream ($4) gave jockey Jevian Toledo his third win of the day following the $100,000 Turf Sprint with Witty and $40,000 Starter Handicap with Disputed Claim. Toledo moved into a tie for third with Mario Pino at 16 Maryland Million wins, trailing only Hall of Famers Edgar Prado (18) and Ramon Dominguez (17).
Intrepid Daydream was the first of three Maryland-bred horses on the also-eligible list for the Distaff who drew into the race after Malibu Moonshine, Moonboots and Mama G’s Wish were scratched. It was the third race in 28 days for Intrepid Daydream, who won the Sept. 16 Shine Again at historic Pimlico Race Course and a restricted allowance Sept. 28 at Delaware Park, both sprinting six furlongs.
“I didn’t know we were going to be in. I was rushing around trying to get here and see the race,” Fowler said. “She ran like we expected. She usually shows speed and today she took back a little bit, relaxed and went on with it. It’s pretty amazing, because it’s a long road. It’s wonderful.”
Response Time, one of two in the Distaff trained by Hamilton Smith along with comebacking two-time Maryland-bred champion Luna Belle, was sent to the lead by Jeiron Barbosa and held it after posting splits of 23.47 and 46.67 seconds. Malibu Beauty, Intrepid Daydream’s multiple stakes-winning stablemate trained by Gary Capuano, raced in second with defending champion Fille d’Esprit in third and Intrepid Daydream in the clear in fourth outside 45-1 long shot Miss Gracie.
Toledo gave Intrepid Daydream her cue rounding the far turn and she responded to move up alongside Response Time entering the stretch before matching strides and going on to win in 1:24.62 over a main track rated good. Response Time held second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of late-running Luna Belle, who had trained the field early. A five-time stakes winner and Maryland’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2021 and 3-year-old filly of 2022, she was making her first start in 513 days.
“She is a really nice filly,” Toledo said. “That’s three in a row. She got a great post on the outside today. There was lots of speed on the inside, so the plan was to stay close and follow them into the turn. My filly was ready when it was time to go.”
Mavilus, Fille d’Esprit, Malibu Beauty, Quiet Imagination and Sweet Gracie completed the order of finish. Isabella’s Glory and Canoodle were also scratched.
