Crabcakes earns repeat victory in Maryland Million Distaff

LAUREL, Md. – In Maryland, crabcakes and Million Day are a tradition, so it was only fitting when Crabcakes repeated on Saturday in the $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park.

Crabcakes, a 4-year-old daughter of Great Notion, improved her career record to 9 for 15 with a hard-fought victory in the seven-furlong race for Maryland-sired fillies and mares. She is now 7 for 9 at Laurel for trainer Bernie Houghton.

“She loves Maryland, and I plan to race her here as often as possible,” Houghton said.

Although Houghton has not settled on a next race for Crabcakes, he said a long-term goal for her is the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel in February.

On Saturday, Crabcakes broke sharply and then settled just off a crowded early pace. Jockey Forest Boyce sent her to the lead on the far turn.

Crabcakes turned back a bid from My Magician in upper stretch and then was fully extended to hold back a second try from a resurgent My Magician by a half-length. Anna’s Bandit finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind My Magician.

Seven furlongs is about as far as Crabcakes wants to go.

“It was a little frustrating – they started to come at me at the half-mile pole, and I had to move early at what might not be her best distance,” Boyce said. “She dug in. I knew she wouldn’t let that other filly by without a fight.”

Crabcakes paid $2.80, $2.10, and $2.10 in the seven-horse field. Somebody made an early $50,000 show wager on her, and when the betting closed, she had $101,158 of the $122,437 show pool bet on her. The final time was 1:22.85

Crabcakes was bred by the Buckingham Farm of Houghton’s late aunt Binnie Houghton. Crabcakes is owned by Wayne and Susan Chatfield-Taylor, longtime friends of Binnie Houghton, who left them a number of her horses.

Ladies: My Sistersledge repeats

My Sistersledge won her second straight $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies on Saturday. Neither victory was easy.

A year ago, My Sistersledge won by a nose over Great Soul. On Saturday, she defeated 60-1 My Vixen by a neck after a long stretch battle.

My Sistersledge, a 4-year-old daughter of Etched, is owned by her breeders, John and Cheryl Banner. My Sistersledge improved her record to 6 for 19 in the Ladies and has won three of her last four starts for trainer Mike Trombetta.

My Sistersledge was unhurried while racing seventh early in the 1 1/8-mile Ladies, which was run over yielding turf, as My Vixen cut out fractions of 24.12 seconds, 49.48, and 1:15.15.

Jockey Julian Pimentel set My Sistersledge down three wide on the far turn, and she challenged for the lead entering the stretch. But My Vixen wasn’t through and persevered bravely to the wire.

Trombetta also sent out third-place finisher Magician’s Vanity, who finished 1 3/4 lengths behind My Vixen.

My Sistersledge, who is seemingly improving with each start, was timed in 1:55.74. She paid $3.20.