Bonus Points rallies to win Maryland Million Classic

LAUREL, Md. - Maryland native Nik Juarez had a successful homecoming at Laurel Park on Saturday, winning three of the seven stakes on Maryland Million Day, topped off by Bonus Points' rallying victory in the $150,000 Classic.

Juarez, who began his career in Maryland but now rides in New York and Florida, earlier on the card won the $100,000 Nursery on Clever Mind ($16.80) for Graham Motion and the $125,000 Turf on Spartianos ($7.60) for Michael Pino.

Bonus Points is trained by Todd Pletcher. The victory was bittersweet as Pletcher's other starter, Jerandson, was pulled up on the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race by jockey John Bisono. Jerandson fractured his right hind ankle and was vanned back to the stable area, according to Laurel officials.

When the gates opened, the three inside horses in the 11-horse field of Maryland-sired and Maryland-bred horses – Admirals War Chest, John Jones, and Jerandson – broke sharply and went to the front. Jevian Toledo eased John Jones off the pace on the first turn and when Jerandson was pulled up early on the backstretch that left Admirals War Chest alone on the lead.

Juarez, meanwhile, was content to sit well back on Bonus Points while biding his time through legitimate fractions of 23.53 and 47.83.

Midway on the backstretch, John Jones moved up inside Admirals War Chest to challenge for the lead. He won that battle on the far turn after six furlongs in 1:12.74, but then was challenged from the outside by Southside Warrior.

Juarez asked Bonus Points for his run on the turn and commenced a five-wide rally. He blew by Southside Warrior in midstretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

"I spoke to Todd today and we thought there was plenty of speed inside me," Juarez said. "I sat behind them and waited. I had much the best horse."

Southside Warrior, who put away John Jones entering the stretch, was second best to the winner. It was 2 1/4 lengths back from him to Ghost Bay in third.

Bonus Points paid $8.40 as the second wagering choice behind John Jones, who was 9-5. Bonus Points was timed in 1:50.50.

The top three finishers all were Maryland-bred but not Maryland-sired. Maryland-bred horses are allowed in Maryland Million races when there are less than six Maryland-sired entrants, not counting cross-entered horses.

John Jones tired to finish seventh. Admirals War Chest, who won the Classic in 2015 and 2016, ended up 10th.