Spicer Cub (4) was much better behaved on Saturday than in his previous start (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

Spicer Cub, who became a YouTube sensation when his behavior in a maiden race at Pimlico last month went viral, ran without incident in Saturday's opener at that track, a $40,000 maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles. Click here for a replay of the race.

The Mary Eppler trainee sprinted to the lead with jockey Xavier Perez and led the race at the half-mile pole before giving way in midstretch to 1-2 favorite Tru Greek and finished 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Spicer Cub, the 5-2 second choice, paid $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. The winner stopped the clock in 1:48 1/5 and won for the first time in his 12th career start.

"I had trouble sleeping last night," Eppler admitted. "I am relieved, very relieved. I told X Man (Perez's nickname) that if he did do anything crazy to pull up. I wanted to make sure everybody was safe."

In his last race on April 13, Spicer Cub took an early lead but bolted midway on the far turn before Perez was able to straighten the four-year-old gelding at the head of the stretch. The bay son of Louis Quatorze regained the lead at the top of the stretch but bolted again, causing Perez to lose his irons inside the three-sixteenths pole.