With the 2014 Maryland Million nearly at hand, we will take a look back at the 2013 edition, highlighting the winners and telling the stories.
For a defending champ entering the race in good form, Roadhog didn’t get much respect at the windows in last year’s Maryland Million Turf. Indeed, the son of Bowman’s Band was, at 3.70-1, just the third choice in the wagering.
In fairness to the bettors, though, that’s because Roadhog had to contend with Ben’s Cat, the three-time winner of the Turf Sprint, a race eliminated prior to the 2013 Maryland Million. Ben’s Cat, one of the best and most popular Maryland-sired runners of recent years, went off as the 1.10-1 favorite.
When the gates opened those two runners quickly found each other and tracked each other around the racetrack, Ben’s Cat in second and outside longshot leader Capital Fellow, and Roadhog saving ground just a length or two farther back in third. Entering the lane, Ben’s Cat moved boldly to challenge and then put away Capital Fellow, opening three lengths on Roadhog. But Roadhog, under Kendrick Carmouche, tipped outside and closed stoutly to win by a neck.
[boxify cols_use =”3″ cols =”6″ position =”right” box_spacing =”5″ padding =”3″ background_color =”gray” background_opacity =”10″ border_width =”1″ border_color =”blue” border_style =”solid” height =”150″ ]2013 MARYLAND MILLION TURF- Roadhog (Elizabeth Merryman/Ellendale Racing)
- Ben’s Cat (King Leatherbury/The Jim Stable)
- Target Sighted (Jessica Campitelli/Jessica Campitelli)[/boxify]
“I wanted to sit on the rail and wait for Ben’s Cat to make his move at the eighth pole,” Carmouche said. “Once that happened I knew I could run him down because my horse has a better kick going longer. I wanted to be third and then finish. That’s the way it played out.”
“We are all very happy with how well he ran today,” said Roadhog’s trainer, Elizabeth Merryman.
Dale Schilling, who along with his wife, Ellen, owns Roadhog, agreed. “Biggest race we’ve ever won,” he said.
Roadhog rallies to take the Maryland Million Turf. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
ROADHOG file
- Breeding: Bowman’s Band-Little Wing, by Allen’s Prospect
- Race record (as of 10/15/14): 35-10-7-4, earnings of $609,114
- Humans:
- Breeder Ellendale Racing LLC
- Trainer Elizabeth Merryman
- Owner Ellendale Racing
- Jockey Kendrick Carmouche
- For more:
