Had to Have Him (#1) had to have the win. (The Maryland Jockey Club photo)
Jockey Toledo Makes Maryland Million History
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
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.
