Saratoga Bob wins Maryland Million Classic as Prado sets mark

LAUREL, Md. – Jockey Edgar Prado broke a tie with fellow Hall of Fame rider Ramon Dominguez by winning the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park on Saturday aboard Saratoga Bob. Prado is now the winningest rider in the 33-year history of the Maryland Million.

The Classic was Prado’s 18th Maryland Million victory, one more than Dominguez, who was forced into retirement following a riding accident at Aqueduct in November 2013.

Both Prado and Dominguez cut their teeth in Maryland before moving on to New York, where they became elite national riders. Prado has 7,107 career victories. Dominguez concluded his career with 4,985.

Prado, 51, now rides in Maryland from spring through fall and in Florida in the winter. He often goes out of town for stakes engagements.

“I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to start out here and now to come back the last few years,” Prado said. “It is the cream on top of the cake.

“I am glad to win the race today, but I do not feel like I beat Ramon. There is no reason for that. He is a great rider to win 17 Maryland Million races.”

Saratoga Bob tracked pacesetting Pal Cal early in the 1 1/8-mile Classic before challenging from the outside on the backstretch. He gained a short lead on the far turn, turned back a strong bid from Clubman in midstretch, then lasted over a late-closing Dothat Dance.

Trainer Katie Voss did an excellent job preparing Saratoga Bob for the Classic. He came out of a second-place finish in an August allowance race with heat stroke, according to Voss, and was sent to the farm for a brief freshening.

“When he came back I had to get a race into him for the Classic, so I ran him in the off-the-turf Find, which was a tougher race than this one,” Voss said.

Saratoga Bob finished fifth in the Find, then was given one workout for the Classic.

“Having that race put him where he need to be,” Voss said.

Saratoga Bob paid $9 as the third choice in the 10-horse Classic. He was timed in 1:51.28.

Dothat Dance bested Clubman for second by three-quarters of a length. Pal Cal finished fourth.

Saratoga Bob is a 4-year-old son of Friesan Fire. He is now 3 for 9 in his career. Bred by Voss and Robert Manfuso, he is owned by Wayne Harrison and Manfuso.

Maryland Million handle more than $5 million

All-sources handle on Maryland Million Day was $5,704,775, an increase of 30 percent over 2017, according to track officials.

This is the first time handle on Maryland Million day has reached $5 million in 11 years. The all-time record Maryland Million handle was the $7 million wagered in 2007.