Talk Show Man edges Phlash Phelps in Maryland Million Turf

LAUREL, Md. – Phlash Phelps had a chance to become the first three-time winner of the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf at Laurel Park on Saturday, and in midstretch it looked as if he would succeed. But then, on the far outside, Talk Show Man found his best stride and instead of having a new record, the race gained another two-time winner.

Phlash Phelps is 7. Talk Show Man is one year his senior. They are among the most popular horses racing in Maryland and were the top betting interests in the nine-horse field.

In the 33 years the Maryland Million Turf has been held, there are now six two-time winners of the race. The others are Winsox (1997-1998), Pocket Patch (2010-2011), Roadhog (2012-2013), and La Reine’s Terms (2002 and 2005).

Talk Show Man was rated in fifth position early by Jevian Toledo in the one-mile Turf. Toledo took him well out in the course for the stretch drive and he closed steadily to go by Phlash Phelps in deep stretch and win by a half-length.

Phlash Phelps also was unhurried early. Victor Carrasco moved him up to challenge three wide entering the stretch. He wore down front-running Grandiflora to take the lead, but was outfinished by the winner.

Grandiflora held third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Phlash Phelps.

Talk Show Man paid $8 and was timed in 1:38.64. The $2 senior citizen exacta returned $19.80.

The win was the third on the card for Toledo and his second stakes score. He also won the Maryland Million Sprint Handicap on Lewisfield.

Talk Show Man came into the Turf having won only once in 10 starts since a 17-month layoff from November 2015 to April 2017.

His trainer, Hamilton Smith, said it wasn’t a physical problem that sent him to the sidelines but that owner and breeder Michael Harrison wanted “to give him a rest, and he deserved it.

“But when he came back to me after the layoff he was not doing right, wasn’t hitting the ground well. So, we turned him out again. It’s taken me two years to get him back to this level.”

The Turf was only Talk Show Man’s second start of the year. To prepare him for the Turf, Smith ran him in the Laurel Dash, a six-furlong turf sprint that was too short for him.”

The Dash had the son of Great Notion at his best for Saturday.

Smith has trained Talk Show man since he was 2.

“He’s been a nice horse ever since I’ve had him,” Smith said. “We’ve never had any problems with him. He’s a good horse around the barn. A great horse to have.”

Talk Show Man is now 8 for 36 with earnings of $453,306.

Lassie: My Star Potential sharp

My Star Potential broke a bit slowly again in the $100,000 Lassie but quickly recovered and advanced up the inner rail from post 2. Once she made the front, the race for all intents and purposes was over.

My Star Potential, a 2-year-old daughter of Tritap trained by Claudio Gonzalez and owned by Euro Stable, is now 2 for 3 and only a nose away from perfection. She opened up a sizable lead in upper stretch of the six-furlong Lassie and was never threatened by her 11 rivals, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths under Jomar Torres.

My Star Potential, the 2-1 second choice, paid $6.60 and was timed in 1:11.73, more than 1 1/2 seconds slower than the 1:10.13 the colt Follow the Dog needed to win the Nursery three races earlier.

Belial, Miss Philly Dilly, and Knock Out Kid finished in that order in a close battle for second.

My Star Potential has had trouble from the gate in all three of her career races but has made up for it with her good early speed. She won a Timonium maiden race in her debut and then was second by a nose in a Parx allowance race Sept. 22.