Short rest no problem for Anna's Bandit in Maryland Million Distaff

Anna’s Bandit showed her class by winning her second stakes in a week in the $101,000 Maryland Million Distaff Handicap on Saturday at Laurel Park.

Anna’s Bandit, a 5-year-old Great Notion mare, is Maryland-sired but West Virginia-bred. Last Saturday night at Charles Town, she won the $157,000 West Virginia Cavada Breeders’ Classic. Despite the quick turnaround, she was bet down to 1-2 in the Distaff.

Under 126 pounds and spotting her opponents from eight to 16 pounds, Anna’s Bandit moved up to a contending position along the inside from post 1 under regular rider Xavier Perez. She dropped back a bit on the far turn and it appeared she might be in trouble, but she began to advance again in upper stretch. She took control inside front-running Conjecture in midstretch and showed her superiority when it counted, pulling away to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Bred, owned, and trained by Jerry Robb, Anna’s Bandit covered seven furlongs in 1:23.02, getting her final furlong in 12.35 seconds. She paid $3.

“We just ran last Saturday, so I knew she was going to be sharp,” Perez said. “Jerry told me because we had the one hole just to break sharp and try to stay in contention the whole way around, and that’s what I did.

“When she saw a seam down the stretch, she just fired on like she always does.”

Conjecture was a clear second at 17-1, finishing 3 3/4 lengths in front of Cee Bee Gee Bee in third.

Following a stewards’ inquiry, Limited View, who did not leave the gate with the field, was declared a non-starter. Track announcer Dave Rodman explained the stewards reasoning to the public this way: “Limited View popped open the gate just before the start while staying in contact with her assistant starter, thereby losing all chance.”

Race 3 wagers were refunded on Limited View, who was awarded $2,000 in purse money. In multi-race wagers, bets on Limited View were transferred to the betting favorite, Anna’s Bandit.

Anna’s Bandit is enjoying her best season. The Distaff was her fifth win in a row, and she is 8 for 10 on the year. In 2018, she finished third in both the Cavada and Distaff.

Anna’s Bandit showed promise as a 2-year-old but suffered a serious injury and was away from the races for 14 months. She has steadily improved the past two years, and the Distaff was her 15th win from 31 starts. She has earnings of $658,715.

Robb intends to race Anna’s Bandit next year at age 6.

“I’m hoping to pull another double next year,” he said.

Nursery: Ournationonparade prompt favorite

Ournationonparade came into the $102,000 Maryland Million Nursery a maiden but based on his strong runner-up debut performance was bet down to even-money favoritism in the 10-horse field. Following a smooth ride by Inoel Beato, Ournationonparade headed home to Penn National a stakes winner after pulling away to a 3 3/4-length victory.

Between Ournationonparade’s first race and the Nursery, the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing of Dean Reeves purchased the Cal Nation gelding from his breeder, John E. Williamson III. Run down and beaten a neck in his Laurel Park debut, Ournationonparade came into the Nursery with a race-high Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

So Street went to the lead in the six-furlong Nursery, while Beato, who is third in the Penn rider standings, settled Ournationonparade in third while saving ground. Beato angled Ournationonparade outside So Street entering the stretch, then powered away from his competition down the lane, stopping the timer in 1:09.73.

“The jockey did a great job of letting him settle,” Reeves said.

Ournationonparade, who took late money, paid $4.20. He has been trained all along by Bernie Houghton.

Stone Courageous finished second at 30-1. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to 5-2 Laddie Liam in third. So Street tired to finish sixth.

* Smokin Caraquena ($11.20) came out on the right end of a four-horse blanket finish to win the $61,200 Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.

She won by a nose over Clare’s Dowery. Jumpstartmyheart finished third, another half-length back. Fourth-place Shifra Magician was beaten a nose for third.

Smokin Caraquena is trained by Carl Rafter and was ridden by Chuck Lopez.