Wet track shouldn't bother Double Crown in Maryland Million Classic
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Double Crown, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Kelso Handicap, is the morning-line favorite in Laurel’s $150,000 Maryland Million Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.
The Classic headlines a 12-race Saturday program for Maryland-sired or statebred performers that includes eight stakes.
As of Thursday, there is a 94 percent chance of rain.
Double Crown shouldn’t mind a wet track after capturing the Polynesian on good going Sept. 10 at Pimlico. That was Double Crown’s fourth race in 28 days, and first off just a six-day layoff.
“What I’m most concerned about is the break,” said owner Lynn Cash about the 34-day gap to the Classic. “When he won the Kelso, it was on seven days. In the past, when we’ve had him on decent rest, he hasn’t come back and had a good race.”
Cash believes Double Crown could benefit from this Lasix-free stakes.
“It doesn’t make us better to not be on Lasix, but maybe it doesn’t hurt us as bad as the” rest. he said.
Lasix was allowed in last year’s Classic, a race won by Ournationonparade, who finished fifth in the Polynesian and returns in this year’s Classic.
“The no-Lasix thing hurts him a little bit,” admitted trainer Jamie Ness. “He’s ready. He’s a year older. Maybe he isn’t quite as good. We’ll find out.”
Ness also entered Market Maven, and he’s bullish on that gelding’s chances.
“He’s run against some nice horses,” Ness said. “He’s going to be forwardly placed.”
All Threes finished a length behind Double Crown on Aug. 13 at Laurel. He recently ran third at Pimlico.
“He’s been steady,” trainer Hamilton Smith said. “Maybe going 1 1/8 miles is stretching it a bit. Otherwise, he’s doing well.”
Dolice Vita, Rhumjar, Ain’t Da Beer Cold, and Loose Ends entered, with Super Accelerate, Frightland and Big Blue Line on the also-eligible list.
Maryland Million Turf Sprint
Witty and Sky’s Not Falling finished heads apart in the Ben’s Cat on Sept. 16 at Pimlico, and they’ll have a rematch in the $100,000 Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Witty, a younger half-brother to reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, has had issues breaking from the gate, but trainer Elizabeth Merryman has seen progress.
“I think he does break better on turf,” Merryman said. “He’s a great big horse, and he’s able to grip the turf better leaving the gate.”
Merryman was pleased with the way Witty emerged from the Ben’s Cat.
“I do not think that race took a lot out of him,” she said. “He bounced out of it very happily and in great form.”
While Witty took the outside route in the Ben’s Cat, Sky’s Not Falling, last year’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint hero, was held up in behind horses before extricating himself at the furlong pole.
“His trip was interrupted,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “To his credit, Witty’s got a way of showing up and being very tough to beat.”
Cynergy’s Star, second in the Meadow Stable on Sept. 2 at Colonial, looms a possible upsetter along with Grateful Bred, winless since the 2021 Turf Sprint.
Bandit’s Heart runs only if the race is taken off the grass, per trainer John Robb.
Maryland Million Sprint
The possibility of a wet track concerns Michael Moore, the trainer of 9-5 program favorite Twisted Ride in the $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.
“It looks like a good spot,” Moore said. “The only question is the weather. A couple of his [wet-track] races haven’t been great.”
Twisted Ride returned on 13 days’ rest when third in Monmouth’s Rumson at five furlongs on Sept. 3.
“He’s had more time in between, and that should help him,” Moore said.
Johnyz From Albany dominated second-level allowance horses over a wet track Sept. 24 and looks like a solid contender along with multiple stakes-placed Al Loves Josie, stakes winner Hello Hot Rod, and Seven’s Eleven.
Maryland Million Turf
Wicked Prankster is back to defend in the $125,000 Turf at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, but the speedster’s form is in question after he was pulled up in his most recent start.
Although lightly raced, Fletcher might be the interesting new face for trainer Chuck Lawrence after his turf debut, a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Penn Mile against fellow 3-year-olds on June 2.
“We have always liked him,” Lawrence said. “He came out of the turf race with a little bang-up, so we gave him time, and he’s come back breezing better than ever.”
Street Copper and Crabs N Beer, the second and third finishers in this race last year, should factor. Crabs N Beer was placed second behind millionaire Field Pass in the Find on Aug. 19.
◗ An overflow and competitive field of 2-year-olds travel six furlongs in the $100,000 Nursery. Catahoula Moon, Kohler’s, Speedyness, Full Proof, and Prado Road shape up as prime contenders.
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