Big names headed for Million

Presidentialaffair, runner-up to Ghostzapper in the Grade 3 Iselin Handicap, and Angela's Love, winner of the Grade 3 Gardenia Handicap, are among the prominent horses expected to run in next weekend's Maryland Million at Pimlico.

Presidentialaffair, in the Classic, and Angela's Love, in the Distaff, were among 171 offspring of Maryland stallions pre-entered in the 12 races that will be contested next Saturday. Post positions will be drawn Wednesday.

A 5-year-old trained by Martin Ciresa, Presidentialaffair won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and the Skip Away, both at Monmouth Park. His competition in the 1 3/16-mile Classic will include Aggadan, runner-up in the Grade 2 Tom Fool at Belmont in July.

Angela's Love, trained by Dale Romans, captured the premier race of the Ellis Park meet when she cruised to a 4 3/4-length win in the Gardenia. In what might be the most competitive race on the Maryland Million program, she faces a group in the Distaff that includes Chrusciki, winner of the $100,000 Lady's Secret at Monmouth, and Ribbon Cane, who has won her last four starts, including three stakes.

Three former Maryland Million Turf winners were pre-entered, but only one, La Reine's Terms (2002), is back in the same event. Last year's winner, Move Those Chains, and Elberton, the champ in 2001, are both expected to run in the first edition of the Turf Sprint.

Richetta, winner of last year's Lassie, will be a strong contender in this year's Oaks.

River Cruise, winner of the Oaks on dirt last year, will try turf in the Ladies this time.

Two winners from last year's Maryland Million starter handicaps - Irish Colony and Allens Blessing - will move up to test tougher competition. Irish Colony is entered in the Classic and Turf. Allens Blessing is listed for the Distaff.