Freedom Child's offspring well represented in Nursery, Lassie

Two of the more intriguing Maryland Million Day stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday are the Nursery and Lassie, six-furlong races for 2-year-olds.

The $100,000 Nursery has a field of nine Maryland-sired runners, while the Lassie has 11 fillies sired by in-state stallions. Both races have also-eligible lists of juveniles who were bred in Maryland but are not Maryland-sired. They are unlikely to draw in.

Freshman sire Freedom Child, who stands at Country Life Farm, is off to a quick start with his first crop. He will be represented by three horses in the Nursery, including top contender Jamaican Don, and two in the Lassie, including the promising Limited View.

On the track, Freedom Child, a 7-year-old son of Malibu Moon, won the Grade 2 Peter Pan in 2013 by 13 lengths.

Jamaican Don is based at Thistledown and is owned and trained by Jason DaCosta. He won his debut at Thistledown by 9 1/4 lengths Sept. 4, then set the pace to midstretch in the restricted First State Dash before being overtaken by Whereshetoldmetogo, who is an also-eligible for this race.

The 71 Beyer Speed Figure Jamaican Don earned in the First State is the highest in the body of the field.

Onemoregreattime, who is trained by Laurel-based Jerry Robb, won a $40,000 maiden-claiming race in his July debut, and then was second in an optional-claiming race Sept. 15.

Robb thinks Onemoregreattime has room for improvement.

“He’s had a tendency to break a little slow and the rider asked him to get away from there and he got a little rank,” Robb said of the Sept. 15 race.

Something will have to give in the $100,000 Lassie when Limited View, Margie’s Money, and Pikachu Princess meet.

Limited View and Margie’s Money are both fast. Limited View is 2 for 3, all for trainer John Salzman Jr., with her loss coming in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga. Margie’s Money is undefeated in two starts, both for Hugh McMahon.

Pikachu Princess, who is likely to come from off the pace, is 1 for 3 and most recently finished second in the restricted Small Wonder Stakes at Delaware. Trainer Gina Rosenthal will add blinkers to her equipment.

“She just hasn’t been able to get that extra step out of the gate,” Rosenthal said. “We’re hoping the blinkers make a difference.”