Maryland BC: Gill entry dominates

The streaking Pioneer Boy, part of a 3-5 three-horse entry from Michael Gill, took an early lead and hardly looked back, winning the six-furlong Grade 3 Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap in the first stakes race on the Preakness undercard.

Ridden by Jeremy Rose, Pioneer Boy hesitated at the break but then quickly established the lead while battling with one of his two entrymates, Tasty Caberneigh. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Shah Jehan attempted to take on Pioneer Boy around the turn, but Pioneer Boy put him away and held off a moderate late charge by Sassy Hound to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.35 over a track labeled muddy.

Tasty Caberneigh and Highway Prospector dead-heated for third, giving owner Michael Gill a first and two thirds in the race, which drew seven horses. The purse for the race was $200,000, but $80,000 of the purse was sent back to Breeders' Cup because Pioneer Boy is not Breeders' Cup nominated.