Eighttofasttocatch eyes Maryland Million Classic

Eighttofasttocatch, a Maryland mainstay since 2008, made his first start since December in the $100,000 Japan Racing Association last Saturday at Laurel. Even though the race did not go according to plan, trainer Timothy Keefe said the 8-year-old got enough out of it to be ready for the Oct. 9 Maryland Million Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race Eighttofasttocatch won in both 2011 and 2013.

On Saturday, Eighttofasttocatch was too keen early in the 1 1/16-mile turf race and ran off to a three-length lead on the backstretch. He tired to finish last in the eight-horse field.

“He can be a pretty tricky horse sometimes. He can be a little bit funny,” Keefe said. “He came back missing a shoe, but he is fine. The plan is to bring him back in the Maryland Million and then go to the Jennings.”

The $100,000 Jennings Handicap is a one-mile race for Maryland-breds Dec. 6. Like the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic, it is on the main track, Eighttofasttocatch’s preferred surface.

Eighttofasttocatch is 15 for 47 in his career and is closing in on $1 million in earnings.