Robb gets 2,000th winner in Laurel nightcap

Longtime Maryland trained John J. “Jerry” Robb closed out the Winter Carnival card in style on Saturday at Laurel Park by sending out Stroll Smokin ($5.60) to win a first-level allowance in the ninth-race nightcap. The victory was the 2,000th of Robb’s career.

Stroll Smokin is owned by Robb’s primary owner, the No Guts No Glory Farm of Gina Rosenthal, and was ridden by Robb’s first-string jockey Xavier Perez.

“I’m very appreciative of it, and for all of my owners, my help and the pinheads [jockeys],” said Robb, 67. “I’m proud of the fact I’ve done it with a small stable and 50 wins a year.”

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Two races earlier on the card, Robb sent out the star of his stable, Anna’s Bandit, to finish third in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie. Six-year-old Ann’s Bandit, whom Robb bred and No Guts No Glory owns, is 16 for 34 in her career and won nine of 11 in 2019, tying her as the winningest horse in North America.

The horse Robb is most associated with is Little Bold John, who won 38 of 105 starts and earned just short of $2 million between 1985 and 1992. Little Bold John won 25 stakes and was the leading Maryland-bred in that category until being passed by Ben’s Cat in 2016.

While Anna’s Bandit and Little Bold John excelled as older horses, Robb is widely known for his knack of developing young horses. Last year, Robb won seven races with 2-year-olds.

Since 2011, his 2-year-old runners include Lake Sebago, winner of the Smart Halo and Gin Talking stakes in 2014; Debt Ceiling, whose three stakes wins in 2013 included the Grade 3 Bashford Manor; Joint Custody, winner of the 2013 Marylander; and Glib, winner of the 2011 Maryland Million Nursery and Maryland Juvenile Championship.

Robb has a career win percentage of 16 percent and stable earnings of $36.77 million.