RACE 1: MARYLAND MILLION TURF DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

11-4-1-3

Today’s the day we’ve all been waiting for: the 38th Jim McKay Maryland Million! There’s a few defending champions on today’s card, among them #11 Pounding Music (3-1), who is the only representative on the dayfor Hangover Kid. She who fended off Downtown Katie, since stakes-placed, to win last year’s edition. This one was flat in her season debut in early August, but has since bounced back with two big performances, including a going-away victory against similar on this grass course last out. She should once again roll late. #4 Chelichna (6-1), one of three in here and 11 on the day for the late Seville, is also a hard-charging sort, having gotten up in the last jump after a wide trip at Pimlico last out, and narrowly missing in her prior two. She runs very consistent brisnet figures, having put up a career-best 81 in her most recent outing. #1 Nicolar (6-1) goes first off the claim by Hugh McMahon, and surged late for second in her most recent.

RACE 2: MARYLAND MILLION STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

3-6-9-11

#3 Shady Munni (2-1), by Country Life Farm’s Friesan Fire, has run in the 90s twice in his last three starts, with his only dull race coming coming on the Timonium bullring. The way his last start unfolded, with free-wheeling Bob Marco zooming out and leaving them reeling, he had no chance. However, he won three in a row on this track earlier this year with more honest pace setups. There’s no one in here as fast as Bob Marco, so this one will have every chance to fire his best shot. #6 Clubman (4-1), the lone representative for all-time great Maryland stallion Not For Love, was taken out of his last start, a win at Timonium, by Robert Bailes. This 9-year-old veteran, set to make his 48th start at Laurel, has run credibly against slightly better earlier this year, and has a steady closing style that will make him a threat as long as he stays out of traffic. #9 Disputed Claim (9-2), one of 11 on the day for Northview’s Golden Lad, has converted great trips into dominant victories each time, rapidly rising through his conditions after taking seven tries to break his maiden. He’s running for his third trainer in three starts, in this case Emanuel Geralis, and getting Jevian Toledo aboard for the first time.

RACE 3: MARYLAND MILLION LADIES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

7-1-10-6

#7 Golden Heart (5-1), by Golden Lad, set the early pace and just barely held on to win at Delaware Park last out, her third victory in her last four grass starts. She ran an 88 that day, far and away the best last-out mark in the field, and the second straight race where she ran a lifetime-top by a good margin. Without much other speed in here, she should be able to set her own terms once again, and will try to set slower fractions than she did last time. Jersey-bred #1 Precious Avary (7-2), by Country Life’s Divining Rod, is a perfect 2-for-2 on the lawn, most recently taking the Jersey Girl Handicap on the lead at Monmouth Park. She set the pace through easy fractions that day and fended off 2022 Jersey-bred Horse of the Year Bramble Bay to win. She’s not likely to get that easy of a setup today, but she’s shown tactical speed before and will try to keep Golden Heart honest. #10 Livelovenlaughter (4-1) has a decent shot of drawing in off the also-eligible list (remember, also-eligibles can only draw in if the race drops below eight Maryland-sired starters!). She wore down Money’s Worth in the stretch last out, but couldn’t fend off the late surge of Circle Home, holding second with a career-best 87. She should rate towards the pace on the outside and pounce on the turn.

RACE 4: MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

10-14-9-4

#10 Dulce Kiara (7-2), by Bandbox, took a slight step up in class to Maryland-bred allowance company last out. She raced wide on the pace and held clear to win her third start in a row, and hit the exacta for the 11th time this year in 14 starts. She’s overcome some wide trips in her last few starts, so the post position shouldn’t be much of an impediment, and she’ll be in prime position to make her move on the turn. #14 Utterly Enchanting (9-2), by Despite the Odds, goes out for the same team that won this race last year: Michael Scheffres, Carlos Mancilla, and Jaime Rodriguez. This one has been very consistent as of late, with figures between 79 and 81 in her last four starts, and was a solid pace-chasing second in a four-horse field at Delaware last out. #9 Bella Bettina (6-1) saved all the ground and rallied to upset a Maryland-bred allowance field last out. She might have a hard time getting that kind of ground-saving trip again, but her late pace figures are consistently strong.

RACE 5: MARYLAND MILLION TURF, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

8-6-2-10

#8 Crabs N Beer (7-2), by Murmur Farm’s Blofeld, hasn’t won this year, but it hasn’t been for lack of trying. He might’ve been best two starts back in the Find Stakes, when he was beaten a neck after getting carried out on the first turn by #2 Wicked Prankster (6-1). He still closed well and lost to the classy Field Pass. His prior two races this year were similarly sharp, including a near-miss first off a six-month layoff in mid-June. He has the best figures in this race, and everything’s pointing towards him finally going to the winner’s circle. #6 Fletcher (8-1), also by Blofeld, faced a strong field in his grass debut, the Penn Mile, and secured third at 98-1. He hasn’t raced since that June 2 effort, but has worked well at Fair Hill since then for Chuck Lawrence. The aforementioned Wicked Prankster, by Mosler, won this race in gate-to-wire fashion last year. He hasn’t won since, but has been working very well since being pulled up in the Find, and should be hard-sent early by Yomar Ortiz.

RACE 6: MARYLAND MILLION LASSIE, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

9-1-2-6

The first 2-year-old race of the day is a wide-open affair, as these types are wont to be. #9 Old Bay (12-1), a daughter of Golden Lad, has finished second four straight times to start her career, but hasn’t found the winner’s circle. However, she’s run well every time, earning figures int he 70s three times. Last out in the Small Wonder allowance, she just missed by a neck behind Just Great, who would likely be odds-on if she were here, despite a wide trip. If she’s anywhere near her morning line, she’ll make a fantastic bet. #1 Remember Me (5-1), by Imagining, ran a huge race in the Keswick Stakes two starts back, dueling all the way down the stretch and ultimately losing by a half-length, with a giant 85. She declined a bit last out when Just Great ran her off her feet, but she’s had a good workout since then should show plenty of speed from the rail. #2 Lucky Cougar (12-1), by Northview’s Madefromlucky, was a game third behind Just Great and Old Bay in the Small Wonder last out, and ships back here from her Thistledown base for Jason DaCosta. Ohio-based Rocco Bowen is named on this filly.

RACE 7: MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-2-8

Last year’s Nursery winner, #7 Johnyz From Albany (6-1), a son of Blofeld, looks like he’s really coming into his own. He turned in a breakthrough effort last out in a second-level sprint at Pimlico, cruising to victory by 5 1/4 lengths with a career-best 96. He’ll have to deal with some pace pressure here, but he looks fast enough to withstand it, and could turn in another giant effort today. He’ll likely go off at a better price than the classiest member of the field, #4 Twisted Ride (9-5), by Northview’s Great Notion. He’s won three stakes races this year, fighting gamely in the stretch and running big figures each time. He got caught up in the pace in the five-furlong Rumson Stakes at Monmouth last out and flattened out, but if Andy Hernandez keeps him in striking position, he’s got the heart needed to prevail. #2 Seven’s Eleven (10-1) was extraordinarily impressive last out, crushing a Maryland-bred allowance field in his second start off a 5 1/2-month layoff. This 3-year-old son of Bandbox showed flashes of brilliance earlier this year, but now looks ready to put it all together and could sit a very sweet trip.

RACE 8: MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-14-5-2

This race starts the late pick 5, with a carryover! Most of the attention will go to #5 Witty (9-5), a son of Great Notion, and Sky’s Not Falling, by Seville. Those two finished 1-2 in the September 16 Ben’s Cat Stakes at Pimlico in an exciting stretch battle. However, Witty regressed in that race, running an 85 in his first victory of the year. Given his prior tendency to finish second (he had five seconds in seven starts on the year prior to the Ben’s Cat), it’s possible he runs back to his level of competition, and at low odds, it’s a risky proposition that he’ll outgame them. Sky’s Not Falling is a bit consistent, so I’ll try to beat the big two with #3 Cynergy’s Star (8-1), another offspring of Great Notion. He returned to the grass for the first time in a while last out int he Meadow Stable Stakes at Colonial, and closed gamely for second, losing to the classy Determined Kingdom by a neck with an impressive 92. He was in good form on dirt prior to that, having taken a second-level sprint two starts back after a nice trip. He has one of the best closing kicks in the field and will take full advantage of the long stretch run. #14 Whenigettoheaven (15-1), the “other” Mike Trombetta and a son of Street Magician, has consistently run in the 80s all year and should get a good trip stalking the pace on the outside.