MJC Photo
“Maryland’s Day at the Races” at Laurel Park on Saturday
> Had to Have Him Razor-sharp for MM Turf Sprint
Dan Illman/Laurel Park/Edited
LAUREL, Md.—As one prior Maryland Million winner departs trainer Kenny Cox’s barn, another looks to assume the mantle of stable star.
Special first post for the 12-race program is 11:30 a.m. ET. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. ET. On the wagering side, Laurel Park offers two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate. The Early “Value Pick 5” spans races 1 through 5, while the Late “Value Pick 5” sequence comprises races 8 through 12. Additionally, races 9 through 12 make up an All-Stakes Pick 4 wager with an estimated $100,000 pool.
The popular Ain’t Da Beer Cold, placed first via disqualification in the 2023 Maryland Million Classic, was recently retired after a string of disappointing performances. The 7-year-old gelding concluded his career with a record of 7 wins from 45 starts, earning $469,712.
Thankfully, Cox has Dr. Michael Harrison’s homebred, Jack’s Legend, waiting in the wings for the $125,000 John Deere Maryland Million Turf for 3-year-olds and upward racing 1 1/8 miles on the Dahlia Course.
No stranger to Maryland Million Turf action – he finished a fast-closing third in the 2023 edition when trained by Mike Trombetta – Jack’s Legend hit the board in his first three career starts before going to the sidelines for over a year.
“He had some different injuries,” Cox said. “They gave him some time. He went back to Mike, and something else happened. I’ve had horses for Doc Harrison for a while, and he felt like a horse would fit in a smaller barn.”
A 5-year-old gelding by Great Notion, the all-time win leader among active stallions in Jim McKay Maryland Million history, Jack’s Legend has three starts under his belt for Cox, and improved with each outing, culminating in a restricted first-level allowance victory at Colonial on Aug. 23.
“[Jockey Jevian] Toledo rode him perfect,” Cox said about that victory. Toledo, the Maryland Million’s winningest active rider, retains the mount.
Cox admitted that he wanted an interim race before the Maryland Million, but “he’s been fine with the extra time. We’ve done a lot of slow works with him because that’s more how I do things. He’s doing good. I think he’s my best shot on the day, for sure.”
Jack’s Legend will have to have them nailed on tight if he is to upend Youknownothing, the even-money favorite on the morning line. A 4-year-old Candy Ride filly facing males for the first time, Youknownothing was purchased for $600,000 as a yearling, and finished second in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes on April 25. Trained by Miguel Clement, the New York-based Youknownothing hit the board in her last two starts, both second-level allowance races at 1 ½ miles.
Sky’s Not Falling, the winner of the 2022 Maryland Million Turf Sprint, and nosed out for the victory in this race last year, prepped for this year’s Jim McKay Maryland Million with a runner-up effort behind prohibitive favorite Wolfie’s Dynaghost in a restricted handicap at Colonial Downs. Trombetta trains the 7-year-old Seville gelding for the Estate of R. Larry Johnson and R. D. M Racing Stable. Another strong contender, Grade 3-placed Crabs N Beer, finished third in this race in 2022 and 2024.
The John Deere Maryland Million Turf drew a field of eight with five others residing on the Also Eligible list.
Had to Have Him Razor-sharp for MM Turf Sprint
Had to Have Him, a 4-year-old gelding by Force the Pass, enters the 1/ST BET Maryland Million Turf Sprint in excellent form. Gelded over the winter, he hasn’t been off the board in four starts this year and roared from off the pace to grab the Laurel Dash on Sept. 13.
“Gelding him really made a difference,” said trainer John Salzman Jr. after the Laurel Dash. “He’s a professional. He handles everything so good. He’s a nice horse to have. He’s impressing me every time he runs.”
Had to Have Him had his final tune-up on October 1, breezing three furlongs in a bullet 35.80 seconds.
Kenneth Ramsey’s Whenigettoheaven already has four victories over the Laurel lawn, including consecutive triumphs in the restricted Ben’s Cat Stakes at six furlongs. Trained by Nolan Ramsey, Whenigettoheaven was a gritty winner of a restricted handicap at Colonial on Aug. 30.
“Probably his best race to date,” Nolan Ramsey admitted. “Before I picked him up, he liked to sit towards the rear of the field and make one run. [Since then], he started finding his way towards the front, but I thought he was probably best sitting from just off the pace. Our post position last time out forced our hand, and I thought he responded to it great, especially after he got headed. To fight back down on the rail after doing the hard work, I was really proud of him.”
Ramsey believes that Whenigettoheaven will be forwardly placed on Saturday.
“I’m not going to take anything away from his running style,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with him right now.”
Eight horses entered the 1/ST BET Maryland Million Turf Sprint, including 2023 winner Witty.
Maryland Million Turf Sprint Field
Rounding out the program are four Maryland Million Starter Handicaps. Two of them, the $50,000 Turf Starter for 3-year-olds and upward, and the $50,000 Turf Distaff Starter for fillies and mares, are contested at 1 1/16 miles. On dirt, the $40,000 Maryland Million Distaff Starter for fillies and mares, and the $40,000 Maryland Million Starter for 3-year-olds and up, are run at seven furlongs.
Named for the late Hall of Fame and 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster who helped launch the groundbreaking concept in 1986, the Jim McKay Maryland Million has evolved into the second-biggest day on the state’s racing calendar behind only the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes.
“Maryland’s Day at the Races” celebrates the stallions that stand in the state, as well as its rich and diverse racing history, which dates to the founding of the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743 and has spawned copycat events across the United States and Canada.
