Mychel Sanchez gave Coringa a heads-up ride. (The Maryland Jockey Club photo)
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md.—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.
