Eighttofasttocatch captures second Maryland Million Classic

After throwing in a clunker as the favorite last year, Eighttofasttocatch

reclaimed his crown in Saturday's $150,000

Maryland Million Classic at Laurel.

Facing six overmatched rivals in the nine-furlong feature, the most lucrative

on the Maryland Million program, Eighttofasttocatch proceeded to set an

uncontested pace and strolled home by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:50 2/5 over a

fast track. The 3-10 favorite, Eighttofasttocatch returned $2.60 under Forest

Boyce.

"I was very comfortable with where I had him coming into this race, but my

concern was that I was comfortable last year and it didn't go quite as well,"

said winning trainer Tim Keefe, referring to the gelding's fifth-place effort in

the 2012 Classic.

Romancing the Gold finished second in the Classic, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of

Wild Louis.

This was the eighth stakes win for Eighttofasttocatch, who captured this race

in 2011. Earlier this season, the veteran captured the Henry Clark at Pimlico by

five lengths prior to a second-place effort in the Pimlico Special. He was last

seen trailing in a stakes at Mountaineer on August 3.

"I didn't think I needed a prep for this race because we all felt that he was

right," Keefe said. "I guess my only concern now is that he is seven and we may

only have him for another year or two. He will be hard to replace in our barn."

Eighttofasttocatch races for Sylvia Heft and has earned $794,585 from a line

of 44-13-7-4.

One Maryland Million streak was extended and one was snapped in the $126,250

Turf

over one mile on good ground. Roadhog, who captured the 2012 Turf when it was

contested at 1 1/8 miles, turned in a furious rally to edge local favorite Ben's

Cat by a neck, with longshot Target Sighted 2 3/4 lengths behind in third.

The 3-1 third choice, Roadhog completed the distance in 1:39 1/5 and paid

$9.40 to win.

"I wanted to sit on the rail and wait for Ben's Cat to make his move at the

eighth pole," jockey Kendrick Carmouche said. "Once that happened I knew I could

run him down because my horse has a better kick going longer. I wanted to be

third and then finish. That's the way it played out."

Ben's Cat, campaigned by training legend King Leatherbury, had won the past

three renewals of the now-defunct Maryland Million Turf Sprint, and just came up

short of becoming the first horse to win four Maryland Million events.

"He likes the turf a little soft so that wasn't an issue today," Leatherbury

said. "He raced well but this distance is really not his best. That's all."

This was the sixth career stakes win for Roadhog, a six-year-old gelded son

of Bowman's Band who races for breeder Ellendale Racing. His record improved to

28-9-3-4, $504,714.

Monster Sleeping couldn't catch the speedy Madame Giry in the six-furlong

Jameela on September 21, but found the stretch-out to nine furlongs ideal when

taking the $125,000

Maryland

Million Ladies on the turf.

Under Jose Garcia, the Oratory filly tracked in third to the stretch when she

put in a winning bid at 4-1. She crossed the wire two lengths to the good of

Daydreamin Gracie, with 7-2 favorite and defending champion Pagan Priestess 1 /4

lengths farther back in third.

Monster Sleeping returned $10.20 after completing the race in 1:53 2/5.

"We had been preparing for this race for quite a while," trainer Dale Capuano

said. "She usually breaks well and today she broke sharp and raced like we hoped

she would. We put a lot of time and effort into getting her ready and it paid

off today."

This was the first career stakes win for Monster Sleeping, who races for

Charles Reed, who claimed the four-year-old for $30,000 on March 21. Her record

now stands at 28-6-4-7, $242,390.

Ribo Bobo rolled to his ninth straight win of the season with a wire-to-wire

triumph in the $100,000

Maryland

Million Sprint and returned $3.80 as the 9-10 favorite.

Under Julien Pimentel, the five-year-old set splits of :22 and :44 3/5, and

finished up six furlongs in 1:08 3/5. He was 5 3/4 lengths clear of the race's

2012 winner, Action Andy, who was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Fersmiley in the field

of four.

"He keeps moving up and winning races so we will take him to Florida. He is

amazing," said Carlos David, assistant to trainer Jason Servis.

Owned by Mr. Amore Stable, who claimed the gelding for $8,000 on January 9,

and again for $6,250 on March 18, Ribo Bobo has won four starter allowances and

two stakes since the latter claim. His previous stakes triumph occurred in the

$72,000 Icecapade at Monmouth Park on September 2.

Ribo Bobo has now earned $460,155 from a line of 46-14-4-3.

Maddy's Dance, a 13-1 shot in the $100,000

Maryland Million Distaff, swept past six rivals in the final quarter-mile to

register an upset in the seven-furlong dash.

Guided by Daniel Centano, the three-year-old filly edged Ann's Smart Dancer

by a neck, with 3-5 favorite Ju Ju Eyeballs 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

Maddy's Dance paid $29.20 after finishing up in 1:23 3/5.

"I felt good going into the race. I thought she'd close," trainer John

Rigattieri said. "She's in good form and with her momentum thirty yards from the

wire, I thought she had it. The jockey rode a good race. It was his first time

on her. I told him she does not like to get hit, so he hand rode her and a did a

very good job."

A homebred racing for Dennis Federico, Maddy's Dance was unplaced in two

previous stakes attempts. Her record now stands at 15-5-1-3, $165,940.

Nine days after romping by 9 1/2 lengths in his debut at odds of 29-1, It's a

Bang made another favorable impression in the $100,000

Maryland Million Nursery for two-year-olds.

Pressing even-money favorite Joint Custody through splits of :22 and :45 2/5,

It's a Bang took over from that rival inside the eighth pole and drew off to a 1

1/2-length victory. Fran's Buckaroo was another 6 3/4 lengths behind in third.

Under Richard Monterrey, It's a Bang completed six furlongs in 1:10 2/5 and

paid $6 as the 2-1 second choice.

"(Trainer) Donald Barr and his staff really deserve a lot of credit for

bringing this horse along after racing nine days ago," Monterrey said. "He broke

very sharp out of the gate and my job was to get him to relax and be as

comfortable as possible. At the top of the stretch it was time to go. My horse

drew away and I had plenty left at the finish."

Owned by Walter Vieser II, It's a Bang has now earned $80,760.

Jonesin for Jerry surged to the lead before halfway and went on to score by a

decisive 5 1/2 lengths in the $100,000

Maryland

Million Lassie for two-year-old fillies.

Under Abel Castellano Jr., the John Robb trainee completed six furlongs in

1:11 and paid $3 as the 1-2 favorite. Steady N Love finished a neck ahead of

Pocket Gift fort the place.

"She was pretty wound up in the paddock and I was pretty worried," Robb said.

"I was really worried when she was coming down the backstretch because she

doesn't like to be rated. She threw her head up but the jockey did a great job

settling her."

Jonesin for Jerry has now compiled a record of 7-3-2-0, $128,040 for owners

Brad Gould Jr. and Hidden Hill Farm. Her previous two wins came at Delaware

Park, the same locale where she finished second by a head in the restricted

$75,000 Small Wonder on September 14.

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