“He called me at 6:15 this morning,” an exultant David Hayden said in the moments after Circle Home rallied late to win the Maryland Million Ladies Saturday at Laurel Park.

At 6:00 Circle Home was an also-eligible in the Ladies. By 6:15, though, she was in, and so trainer Miguel Vera hopped on the phone to tell Hayden, who, with wife JoAnn, races and breeds as Dark Hollow Farm.

The win was the first Maryland Million score for the Haydens. The best runner they bred, the national Hall of Famer Safely Kept, won three consecutive runnings of the Distaff in 1989-1991 but raced for Jayeff B Stable and Barry Weisbord.

By contrast, it was the 18th Maryland Million win for rider Jevian Toledo. That ties him with Edgar Prado for the all-time lead.

“It means a lot to me,” Toledo said. “Edgar is a teacher, like, I call him, he’s a teacher, really great guy.”

Maryland Million races are restricted to Maryland-sired horses. When the number of Maryland-sired runners in a given race falls below eight, Maryland-breds are permitted to draw in to ensure a field of eight. As a daughter of Bodemeister – with lower turf earnings in the last year than fellow Maryland-bred but not -sired runner Active – Circle Home needed a scratch to draw in.

She got the break she needed when trainer Kenny Cox and owner Bonuccelli Racing scratched their longshot Italian War Cry.

Still, Circle Home had to have her running shoes on in the $125,000, nine-furlong affair.

When the gates opened, defending Ladies champion Precious Avary did what she does: scooted to the front. With Silvestre Gonzalez in the irons, Precious Avary opened a yawning lead, six lengths after a half-mile in a sharp 46.86 seconds and five after three quarters in 1:10.68.

Circle Home was in seventh, 21 lengths off the lead, after a half-mile, and still 13 ½ behind after six furlongs. By then, though, Circle Home, rounding the turn four wide, was revving up her run.

Precious Avary was willing – still four lengths in front with a furlong to go – but Circle Home proved relentless, reeling her rival in late to win by a neck. Running time for the nine furlongs was 1:48.10. From Precious Avary, it was another 4 ½ lengths back to show horse Next Episode.

“When I got close to the other horse, she kind of got engaged with my horse and kept going,” Toledo said. “So I didn’t know.”

“She’s got a strong kick, and she’s a very honest horse,” Vera said. “So I really wasn’t worried in the end.”

Circle Home earned the fourth win, in 21 starts, of her career. Her earnings exceed $275,000.

Circle Home is out of the Flatter mare Safe Journey. Her family traces back to Safely Home, the dam of the great Safely Kept.

“We’ve been breeding this family for over 30 years,” Hayden said.

Hayden said he plans to bring Circle Home back to the races in 2025.

“I’m getting too old” [to retire her], he added with a laugh.

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