Jack's in the Deck holds off Ben's Cat to win Maryland Million Sprint

LAUREL, Md. – After a long, hard-fought stretch duel, Jack's in the Deck refused to give in and held off Ben's Cat by a nose to win the Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Ben's Cat never was far back in the six-furlong main-track sprint, and when he moved up outside Jack's in the Deck nearing the stretch, it looked like he would go right by. But Jack's in the Deck dug in resolutely, and the two horses never were separated by more than a head or so in the final three-sixteenths of a mile.

Winning rider Forest Boyce was exuberant after the race, having been beaten by Ben's Cat in the past.

"We finally got him," she said. "It was intense. We kept putting a head in front of each other."

Jack's in the Deck, a 6-year-old gelding trained by Robin Graham, now is 5 for 21 in his career. He has back class, but the Sprint was only his second win in 15 starts dating back to 2011. He won his maiden by taking the Futurity at Belmont Park in his second career start in 2011.

"He's a nice horse," Graham said. "He's had some health issues. We're just patient with him and run him when he's good. We don't point for anything."

Graham has trained Jack's in the Deck his entire career. She was given the horse after he was injured at the end of 2013. He didn't race again until September 2014. Graham was wearing a medical boot Saturday after breaking her foot while ponying a horse a week ago.

Jack's in the Deck was timed in 1:10.74. He paid $13.60 as the third choice in the eight-horse field. Ben's Cat was sent off as the 3-5 favorite. D C Dancer finished third, two lengths behind Ben's Cat.

Ben's Cat, trained by King Leatherbury, now is 2 for 7 this season. He's been trying hard in all of his races but appears to have lost a little spring in his step at age 9. There is little doubt he would have beaten Jack's in the Deck a year ago.

"He looked like he was going to win at the eighth pole," Leatherbury said. "Then the 7 came up with the super race. They fought it out, and they bested us. He showed a little more speed than he normally does."

Tricky Lion stumbled in tight quarters at the quarter pole and unseated jockey Yomar Ortiz, who was taken to the hospital complaining of shoulder and rib pain.

Nursery: Corvus wins career debut

Corvus broke on top in the field of 11 2-year-olds in the Maryland Million Nursery and won his career debut comfortably by 1 3/4 lengths.

Corvus was rated on the early pace inside Crazy Wild Bill, put that rival away entering the stretch, and was clearly best. A son of Dance with Ravens, he was bred by trainer Katherine Voss in partnership with Robert Manfuso. He is owned by Voss, Manfuso, and Wayne Harrison.

"He's shown a lot of talent, but I wasn't sure the light bulb had gone on," Voss said. "I wanted to get a race in him, but he popped a splint back in the summer. We weren't going to go here, but he was ready and needed to run."

Flash McCaul, the 5-2 second choice, went outside horses for the stretch run and finished second, a neck ahead of Captain Alex. Ravenheart, the 5-2 favorite, raced in traffic early and finished fourth.

Corvus paid $53, and the $2 exacta with Flash McCaul paid $269.80. Corvus set splits of 23.14, 47.34, and 59.63 and completed six furlongs in 1:12.15.

Lassie: Lexington Street wins big

Lexington Street proved much the best in the $101,000 Maryland Million Lassie, the first of seven stakes on the Saturday card at Laurel Park.

Trained by Gary Capuano for Marathon Farms, who also bred her, Lexington Street ran past the early leaders in upper stretch and pulled away to score by 5 3/4 lengths. She had won her maiden at Laurel by 2 1/2 lengths Oct. 4. She now is 2 for 3 in her career.

Capuano said he planned to give Lexington Street a little break and would consider the $100,000 Gin Talking Stakes at seven furlongs for her Dec. 5.

Lexington Street, ridden by Jevian Toledo, covered six furlongs in 1:11.13 Saturday and paid $11.80. The early pacesetters Fly Girl and Table Jumper finished second and third.

Lexington Street is a Maryland-bred daughter of Kentucky-based Street Sense. The Maryland Million races traditionally have been for Maryland-sired horses, but they were opened up last year to include Maryland-bred runners if fewer than six Maryland-sired horses enter any race. The Lassie is the only race this year in which that occurred.