Million Classic: Docent does it!

Heavy favorite Docent wore down front-running Presidentialaffair for a nose victory in the $190,000 Maryland Million Classic, richest race on the 11-stakes Maryland Million card Saturday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The win for Docent was his second straight in the Classic and his third on Maryland Million Day.

Docent and jockey Clinton Potts stalked Presidentialaffair down the backstretch. The two raced side by side for the final furlong, with Docent poking his head in front at the wire.

Docent ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:54.94 and returned $3.40 to win. The victory was the 15th in 27 starts for Docent, who has now earned almost $750,000.

In the day's other races:

* Michael's Pride ($31.40), under Jozbin Santana, got up in the final strides to win a three-way blanket finish over favored Crossing Point and Deer Run in the $95,000 Sprint. Claimed by trainer Howard Wolfendale for $40,000 two starts earlier, Michael's Pride ran the six furlongs in 1:09.21.

* In a race dominated by late-runners, Move Those Chains ($4.60) and jockey Ramon Dominguez got first run on the leaders and ran off to a three-length victory over Watchman's Warning in the $95,000 Turf. A 4-year-old Polish Numbers colt, Move Those Chains ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.28. He is trained by Kevin Boniface.

* Willa on the Move ($2.80) had little problem living up to her 2-5 favoritism, rallying from seventh place early and drawing off to a two-length score in the $95,000 Distaff for fillies and mares. She ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.73. Mario Pino rode Willa on the Move, a daughter of Two Punch trained by Anthony Dutrow.

* Hail Hillary ($5.80) held off the late rally of 6-1 shot Supposedly to prevail by a neck in the $95,000 Ladies, a

1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares. Abel Castellano Jr. rode Hail Hillary, who covered the distance in 1:46.86.

* River Cruise ($3.80) and jockey Jeremy Rose grabbed the lead out of the gate and never relinquished it in the $95,000 Maryland Million Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. River Cruise won by 2 1/2 lengths over Valley of the Gods in 1:50.65 for 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

* Polish Rifle ($3.80) and Pino gave their backers few anxious moments in the $95,000 Nursery, for 2-year-olds, winning by nine lengths. A son of Polish Numbers trained by Dutrow, Polish Rifle covered seven furlongs in 1:23.17. The win gave Dutrow and Pino two each on the day.

* Richetta ($4.60), trained by Robin Graham, came through as the favorite in the $95,000 Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, winning by 4 1/2 lengths under a hand ride by Dominguez, who won three races on the day. The third offspring of Polish Numbers to win Saturday, Richetta ran the seven furlongs in 1:24.33.

Attendance at Laurel Saturday was 21,108.