In 1994, the 4-year-old filly Angel Katy switched to hurdles near the end of her racing career and scampered home a 37-length winner in a $5,000 maiden-claiming race at Fair Hill. In doing so, she might have made history. Trained by Larry Smith and owned by Nathan Scherr, Angel Katy began her career as a dirt sprinter before stretching out on the dirt and turf. In her last three months on the track, Smith tried her over hurdles. The Maryland-bred stayed at home for much of her career and earned nine victories in 47 starts. Nearly lost in a vast sea of data, it is distinctly possible that Angel Katy is the only horse in the last 40 years to win a race at Laurel Park, Pimlico, Timonium, and Fair Hill, the four major thoroughbred tracks in Maryland since the late 1980s. If not, she is one of an extremely small group who has even had the opportunity to attempt the Old Line Sweep. “It’s fun that many horses, as they get older, shift to different things, figure out what they can do next,” Smith said. “To be a maiden again, you can win on the flat whenever and you’re still going to be a maiden over hurdles or timber.” The obstacles involved in achieving the rare and arbitrary feat are staggering. The five-furlong dirt oval at Timonium and European-style turf course at Fair Hill require vastly different skill sets. In their best years this century, Timonium, Fair Hill, and Pimlico have only been open for short meets. A six-year renovation to Fair Hill, delayed by the pandemic and other factors, and ongoing construction at Pimlico have made it practically impossible for runners to sweep the four tracks. Next year, Laurel is expected to close, ending this iteration of the achievement forever. But with Fair Hill back in action, the gauntlet is again accessible for a short time. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. The Fair Hill Turf Showcase, a two-day meet featuring eight flat races on Sunday and nine steeplechase races on Monday, will be the second event hosted on the course since last August. The Sunday card features several runners who qualify as Old Line Sweep hopefuls, particularly in the fourth race, a 6 1/2-furlong starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up. Trainer Mike Gorham will ship in Cloud Music, who ran on dirt most of his career before switching surfaces last September. A winner at Laurel and Pimlico, he came up short in his only race at Timonium, but based on a career-best stint on turf last year, Gorham has no reason to try dirt again. “If he gets his head in front, he really gets brave,” Gorham said. “On the grass, he gets clear in those races.” Elsewhere in the fourth, Mission Artemis, Bigdaddysboy, and Catahoula Moon could also have the chance at sweeping the four Maryland tracks. All three have won at Timonium and Laurel, and with an upset victory at Fair Hill on Sunday, they would only need to wait until Pimlico reopens next year. For Smith, who still trains and has two horses entered at Fair Hill on Monday, Angel Katy was one of many runners who found a second calling. The state always provided different opportunities, and it will again with Fair Hill back on the calendar. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.